About 90% of American adults struggle with health literacy, resulting in confusion around diagnoses, preventative health, and treatment options. That means the vast majority of Americans aren’t getting the best health outcomes possible or truly understanding what they need, placing undue strain on the healthcare industry. This problem is a long-term challenge, but there is a solution: commitment to providing clear, thorough, accessible patient education can help greatly reduce patients’ frustration.

The aesthetics industry is entering 2026 with strong momentum. Client demand remains high, innovation continues at a rapid pace, and practices are expanding services to meet evolving expectations around personalization, prevention, and holistic care. For cosmetic dermatology, plastic surgery, and med spa practices, 2026 represents a pivotal moment where clinical advancement, technology adoption, and business strategy intersect more closely than ever.

Much of the dialogue about EHRs centers on their ability to streamline clinic operations. But that’s not their only value: The right EHR enables medical practices to improve patient outcomes.

David Slazyk, Chief Information Officer & Chief Information Security Officer at Nextech, explains the real risks that small medical practices face in today’s cyber world.

As dermatology evolves, the demand for more personalized, efficient treatments is growing. The expansion of digital healthcare technology has allowed for more tailored care that yields trackable improvements on patient outcomes.

There was much to behold at Nextech EDGE 2025, our annual user conference. Care providers and administrators from specialty practices nationwide gathered in Orlando, Fla., to connect with each other and learn about industry trends, regulatory changes, and the latest innovations from savvy experts and peers. There also were plenty of exciting updates from Nextech about the company and its technology platform. Here are the highlights:

Clinical excellence and financial stability are two major priorities for physician-entrepreneurs, yet achieving both requires a fine balance. Forward-thinking leaders like Dr. Neel Vaidya, chief information officer at Chicago Cornea Consultants and longtime Nextech user, incorporates emerging technology into his practice to improve workflows, enhance patient care, and build fiscal sustainability.

Emerging technologies like embedded payments, patient photography, and artificial intelligence (AI) are shaking up the healthcare world — especially in dermatology. These tools can boost efficiency and improve patient care, but they also come with some big questions around compliance and privacy. So, how do you make sure you’re using these innovations to your advantage without stepping into a regulatory minefield? Let’s break it down.