Recent Digital Health Trends, Insights, and News – September 2026

August may have marked the final stretch of summer, but digital health showed no signs of slowing down. Virtual care reached new territory—from urgent care visits inside schools to digital health systems aboard U.S. Navy ships. Meanwhile, the FDA authorized the first wearable to continuously monitor both glucose and ketones, and a major health system launched an AI-powered digital front door that can guide patients from a health question to virtual care.

But some of the month’s biggest developments weren’t just about what technology can do—they were about what happens as it scales.

Here’s what’s driving digital health forward this month.

Technology, News, and Insights

North Carolina Schools Launch Urgent Care Telehealth Pilot for Students

Dare County Schools in North Carolina is launching a school-based urgent care telehealth pilot for students in grades six through 12. Through a partnership with the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services and Surf Pediatrics and Medicine, eligible students who become ill during the school day can connect virtually with a licensed healthcare provider from a private location at school.

With a school nurse helping determine when a virtual visit is appropriate, the program could help students receive timely care while reducing disruptions for families and keeping students in class when appropriate.

Read the full Island Free Press article here >>

Atlantic Health Launches AI-Powered Digital Front Door for Patient Care

Atlantic Health and K Health launched Atlantic Health PatientGPT, an AI-enabled platform that gives patients personalized health guidance based on information from their medical records. Integrated with MyChart, the tool helps patients better understand symptoms and health concerns, identify the appropriate level of care, and connect directly with Atlantic Health clinicians when needed—including same-day virtual primary care appointments. The platform is initially launching in beta across New Jersey as Atlantic Health explores how AI can create a more connected path from health questions to care.

Read the full Atlantic Health announcement here >>

Fitbit Founders Launch AI-Powered Wearable for Family Health

Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman unveiled Luffu Link, a wearable designed to help families and caregivers monitor and coordinate health information in one place. The device tracks metrics including activity, sleep, heart rate, and breathing rate while incorporating voice logging, GPS, and an emergency alert button. Connected to Luffu’s AI-powered family health platform, the wearable brings together health data, medication schedules, appointments, and other information to help caregivers identify important changes and manage health across their families.

Read the full Fast Company article here >>

Policy and Regulatory

FDA Authorizes First Wearable to Continuously Monitor Glucose and Ketones

The FDA authorized the Libre Duo 10 Day Continuous Dual Glucose Ketone Monitoring System, the first wearable device in the U.S. to continuously monitor ketone levels and the first globally to continuously track both ketones and blood sugar in a single device. Designed for people ages 2 and older living with diabetes, the wearable measures glucose and ketone levels every minute and sends the readings to a compatible smartphone

Read the full FDA announcement here >>

FDA Seeks Input on Regulation of Generative AI-Enabled Medical Devices

The FDA released a new discussion paper exploring how generative AI-enabled medical devices could be regulated as the technology becomes more integrated into healthcare. The agency is seeking public feedback on areas including risk assessment, premarket evaluation, postmarket monitoring, foundation models, and agentic AI systems, with the goal of developing a regulatory approach that keeps pace with rapidly evolving digital health technologies while addressing patient safety and performance.

Read the full FDA announcement here >>

Industry Conversations

Healthcare’s AI Ambitions Are Outpacing Workforce Readiness

As healthcare organizations continue investing in AI, a new challenge is emerging: finding the people and infrastructure needed to successfully put those technologies into practice. A MedCity News perspective argues that interoperability specialists, data governance experts, implementation leaders, and digital infrastructure professionals will become increasingly critical as health systems integrate AI into complex clinical environments. Without greater investment in these capabilities, the gap between what AI can do and what healthcare organizations can operationalize at scale could continue to grow.

Read the full MedCity News article here >>

Health Systems Push Back on Proposed Remote Monitoring Policies

More than 200 healthcare organizations are urging CMS to reconsider proposed Medicare changes that would limit the use of third-party clinical staff for remote monitoring services. Industry groups warn the policy could disrupt remote care for roughly 1 million Medicare beneficiaries, with rural and safety-net providers potentially facing some of the greatest challenges.

Read the full Becker’s Hospital Review article here >>

Growth, Funding, and Innovation

Cityblock Raises $116M and Acquires Homeward Health to Expand Rural Care

Cityblock Health raised $116 million in Series E funding and announced plans to acquire Homeward Health, expanding its value-based care model from primarily urban communities into rural markets. The combination brings together Cityblock’s care delivery and technology platform with Homeward’s rural care model, which includes virtual care, mobile clinics, and in-home remote monitoring. Together, the companies expect to serve nearly 250,000 people across urban and rural communities.

Read the full Fierce Healthcare article here >>

U.S. Navy Tests New Digital Health System to Modernize Care at Sea

The U.S. Navy evaluated a new digital health system aboard the USS Essex designed to give medical teams better access to patient information in disconnected environments at sea. During an 11-day assessment, Navy medical personnel tested the platform across clinical workflows and simulated mass-casualty scenarios, providing feedback on its usability, reliability, and functionality. The system is part of a broader effort to bring modern, interoperable electronic health records to military medical teams operating around the world.

Read the full DVIDS article here >>

Digital Health Funding Hits $7.4B as Investors Prioritize Proven Platforms

U.S. digital health startups raised $7.4 billion in the first half of 2026, with $100M+ mega-deals helping drive the surge as investors increasingly favor companies with established health system partnerships, patient volumes, and proven use cases. Capital is concentrating across areas including chronic care, healthcare workforce tools, home-based care, and clinical and administrative automation, while consolidation is also accelerating across the market. As investment grows, the conversation is shifting from which technologies can attract funding to which can demonstrate sustainable reimbursement, successful integration, and long-term value for healthcare organizations.

Read the full MarketScale article here >>

$93.3M Investment Expands Telehealth and Rural Healthcare Across Georgia

Georgia is receiving $93.3 million through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen healthcare access and infrastructure across 87 rural hospitals. The investment will help expand telehealth access, maternal and behavioral health services, workforce training, and care networks while supporting new technologies such as surgical robotics and hospital cybersecurity. The funding is part of Georgia’s $218 million first-year allocation and aims to help rural communities modernize care delivery and bring more services closer to patients.

Read the full Middle Georgia CEO report here >>

OpenLoop Resources & News

The Most Popular Peptides for Recovery & Performance

As interest in recovery and performance offerings grows, healthcare organizations are exploring how peptide therapies may fit within broader wellness and longevity offerings. OpenLoop’s latest guide breaks down some of the most-discussed peptides for recovery and performance, the research behind their potential applications, and where each currently stands within the FDA’s evolving regulatory framework.

Read the full OpenLoop blog here >>

OpenLoop Announces New Investment Strategy to Expand Clinical Infrastructure

OpenLoop announced a new strategic investment approach to support its expansion into emerging care categories, building on 13 investments and acquisitions since 2024. Rather than relying solely on acquisitions, OpenLoop will also invest in clinical companies operating in areas its infrastructure already supports, allowing those companies to remain independent while accelerating growth. The strategy’s latest investment is Happy Sleep, an at-home sleep diagnostics company whose clinical operations OpenLoop has supported since April 2026.

Read the full Healthcare IT Today announcement here >>

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