How AI is Transforming Healthcare
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the face of healthcare. From improving patient engagement to enhancing clinical decision-making, AI holds immense potential to revolutionize care delivery. In a recent panel discussion, chief information officers (CIOs) from leading healthcare organizations shared their insights on the opportunities and challenges of implementing AI.
The CIOs agreed that AI is no longer optional—it’s becoming embedded in nearly every software upgrade and new application. "Almost every system upgrade we get from a third-party vendor, guess what? Embedded AI," said Bill Phillips, CIO at University Health. The key is developing strategies around which use cases to prioritize and how to roll out AI capabilities thoughtfully.
One of the most promising applications of AI is in improving patient engagement. The panelists envision AI-powered systems that help patients seamlessly manage appointments, make payments, get directions, and control their environment from their hospital bed. "How can we utilize it to help the patient navigate through the system?" asked Phillips. Making the healthcare experience simpler and less stressful for patients is a top goal.
AI also has the potential to be a game-changer for clinicians. Applications like ambient clinical intelligence, which listens to patient-physician conversations and automatically generates clinical notes, have already shown great results. "This is finally the real deal," shared Matthew Chambers, CIO at Baylor Scott & White. "It’s improving the patient experience. We had a provider that said, 'I had a first-time initial visit patient that was going through a really, really tough time, and I got to hold her hands during the visit.'"
While the potential of AI is exciting, the CIOs stressed the importance of deploying it responsibly and ethically. This includes establishing strong data governance policies, validating AI-generated information, and being transparent with patients about when AI is used. "You have to be cognizant of that," said Eric Reid, VP and CTO at Christus Health. "Coach, prepare people."
"If you look at the growth rate dollars that are expected in AI over the next 10 years, it’s billions upon billions," noted Phillips. With the rapid advancement of AI capabilities, healthcare organizations need to continue strategizing about how to harness AI to improve outcomes and efficiency while ensuring it is applied safely and ethically. The future of AI-enabled healthcare is bright, and the time to prepare is now.
Want to hear more from our panel of experts? Watch the full CIO panel discussion on AI in healthcare to gain deeper insights into how leading organizations leverage AI to transform care delivery.
The insights shared by these healthcare IT leaders make it clear that AI will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of care delivery. By embracing AI-powered tools to enhance the patient experience, augment clinician capabilities, and drive operational efficiency, healthcare organizations can thrive in the intelligent computing age. The key will be approaching AI implementation strategically, responsibly, and always to improve the lives of the patients we serve.
