As AI has grown and developed, we’ve seen it bleed into our professional and personal lives in ways we never could have expected. Whether you are excited or concerned about AI becoming a part of your life, the fact remains that it’s happening. Some industries however are seeing more challenges than others — AI in healthcare is a prime example. 

People are understandably nervous about handing any part of their care over to AI. Not only that, but healthcare as an industry is burdened with complex processes, legacy tech, and vast amounts of incredibly sensitive data. 

Healthcare organizations need to deliver top-tier care, improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and comply with regulations. Inefficient workflows and administrative burdens lead to clinician burnout and affect the physician-patient relationship. 

In the face of these challenges, can AI really move the needle? 

An AI Solution to a Human Problem 

Forgetting about how AI can specifically improve treatment for now, the main problem facing healthcare right now is clinical burnout. Burnout has long been a concern even before the pandemic. Now, it’s a crisis. 

To remedy this, more access to take care of patients is being given to professionals below the MD level who are not properly licensed. Stop-gap solutions that don’t address the root cause are Band-Aids on bullet holes and the healthcare industry is barrelling towards a serious problem. 

And what is the root cause? Money. Healthcare margins against the cost of personnel are razor thin, even without considering the growing need for more people. 

This is where AI in healthcare has the potential for real value. 

Making an Impact 

Beyond the Gartner Hype Cycle, healthcare isn’t immune to the excitement around AI and the desire for technology that can deliver positive change.

For the organizations finding their way out of the trough of disillusionment, AI is already making a positive impact by allowing physicians to see more patients, reduce their burnout, decrease their ‘pajama time’, and improve their RVU’s (Retail Value Units). 

For patients, this means more accessible care, increased treatment satisfaction, and happier, healthier doctors.

Use Cases for AI in Healthcare 

AI Note Takers 

A doctor who bounces from room-to-room having conversations with patients will return to their computer to write up all these critical notes. With an AI note taker, by the time the doctor returns to their computer, the notes are already there. All they must do is review, edit, and sign. This saves huge amounts of time and takes admin away from busy doctors. 

AI Chatbots 

Chatbots can be implemented that will do the patient interview for the doctor while they are doing other things. This allows them to focus on the data they already have before they meet with the patient, ensuring that any time spent with the patient is valuable for both parties. 

Patient Satisfaction 

People who have transparently implemented AI in their healthcare programs and have earned their patients’ trust have seen substantial increases to their Press Ganey scores. 

There are lots of uses for AI in healthcare and thanks to organizations like The Trustworthy and Responsible AI Network (TRAIN), people are innovating and operationalizing trustworthy AI in healthcare all the time. 

But this doesn’t mean there is a significant barrier to entry. Even ChatGPT can be used to drive value when used effectively. 

How Do You Get AI Off the Ground? 

Healthcare is no different than any other organization when it comes to operationalizing AI securely and effectively. Good governance and effective change management will see you through. Getting there, however, is a cultural challenge. 

To encourage your organization to embrace innovation, find and select the right people to get the training and support they need to drive change. This is how you ensure AI gets adopted, tracked, and used correctly in the right places. 

Training must be a priority if you’re going to succeed. Evidence already exists that proves if you prioritize continual training and provide doctors with the right support, they get better with Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and tools like AI. 

‘Assistive’ Intelligence 

60% of Americans would be uncomfortable with their healthcare provider relying on AI in their own care. 

Patient skepticism around AI in healthcare is perfectly understandable. If AI struggles to identify how many R’s are in strawberry, how is anyone supposed to trust it with their health? 

When it comes to AI in healthcare, it should be strenuously emphasized that AI isn’t there to treat. It’s there to automate and to improve efficiency. If trusted, AI drives both physician well-being and patient satisfaction. 

AI in Healthcare 

We are only scratching the surface of the possibilities for AI in healthcare. More available care, better interactions with doctors, less clinical burnout – the transformational potential is evident. 

Instead of removing humanity from the industry, AI has a real chance to make healthcare more human than ever. 

Thanks to Robert Budman for sharing his invaluable insights at our recent Healthcare Summit. For the next steps on the future of AI in the healthcare industry, make sure you check out our upcoming Healthcare Summits for 2025.