Healthcare organizations are embracing the promise of generative AI to ease workforce shortages and reduce administrative burdens – but many remain unprepared to implement the technology at scale.
A Wolters Kluwer survey reveals that while health professionals are eager to use generative AI for critical goals such as optimizing workflow and improving clinical sustainability, there's a growing gap between aspiration and actual readiness.
The report, which included physicians, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, administrators and medical librarians, indicated genAI is primarily being explored to alleviate immediate operational pressure, including staffing shortages, administrative burdens and burnout.
Nurses and pharmacists emerged as the most willing to adopt genAI tools to address these pain points: 52% of pharmacists and 45% of nurses surveyed said they believe genAI can reduce burnout by handling repetitive non-clinical tasks.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The report projected five key trends that will shape GenAI use over the next three years, including adapting to changing regulations (76%), improving clinical training and retention (74%), and reducing administrative burdens like prior authorizations (67%).
Rounding out the top five was strengthening organizational competencies such as cybersecurity (68%) and responding to heightened expectations from patients and leadership (70% and 64%, respectively).
Among the chief concerns highlighted by survey respondents are data privacy (56%), model bias (55%) and fears of eroding clinical decision-making skills (57%).
And despite positive sentiment, policy gaps remain, with just 42% of organizations having established guidelines for genAI integration, while less than a third (31%) have clarity on roles between clinicians and AI.
Although 51% of healthcare professionals use genAI personally at least weekly, only 43% report the same usage in professional settings, indicating slower adoption at work.
Organizations currently emphasize small-scale genAI wins over enterprise-wide transformation, hampered by a lack of structure and leadership in deployment.
"When designing GenAI policies, leaders should actively solicit feedback from clinical users and implement processes to routinely reassess guidance as new solutions are rolled out to additional areas of the organization," the report concluded. "As the pace of change accelerates, it will be key to demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness when guiding the entire enterprise in the right direction."
THE LARGER TREND
A Philips report from May reveals a persistent trust gap between patients and physicians when it comes to using AI in healthcare, particularly in clinical settings.
While 73% of patients support technology if it improves care, over half fear it could reduce face time with doctors, making healthcare feel less personal.
The report emphasized the need for healthcare professionals to stay involved in AI-driven care, with 86% of patients saying they feel more at ease when doctors provide oversight and explain the role of AI in their treatment.