Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Healthcare
According to a study released in September by Bain & Company and KLAS Research, titled “2024 Healthcare IT Spending”, 75% of U.S. healthcare providers and payers increased their IT spending in 2024. Artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and IT infrastructure were noted as the main areas of investment. The survey of approximately 150 US healthcare provider and payer executives notes that the spending trend is likely to continue into the future.
Adoption of AI in healthcare is growing, with 15% of providers and 25% of payers reporting an “established AI strategy” in 2024. AI-supported solutions are enhancing decision making, improving operational efficiency, and delivering more care. By streamlining administrative tasks, AI is enabling healthcare entities to treat more patients and increase revenue. AI-enabled scribing solutions reduce documentation time by up to 30%, resulting in physicians having more time to focus on patient care and to see more patients.
AI use in the areas of patient scheduling, optimizing staffing levels, automating billing processes, and identifying potential issues with claims is helping to cut costs.? Using predictive analytics to identify high-risk patients, allowing for proactive interventions and improved treatment plans is improving patient care while maximizing patient throughput.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has also shown promise for assisting people with disabilities and might “correct for the under-representation of individuals with disabilities trained as physicians”. For example, AI-driven voice recognition software allows physicians with mobility impairments to dictate notes, navigate electronic health records, and communicate with patients without relying on manual inputs.
AI-powered diagnostic tools, such as image analysis software, can reduce the physical and cognitive workload by providing rapid, accurate interpretations of radiological or pathological data. Additionally, adaptive technologies integrated with AI, such as robotic surgical systems or prosthetic devices, can extend physical capabilities, allowing physicians with disabilities to perform tasks that might otherwise be challenging or even impossible.
AI ethics and AI governance are timely topics I will review in 2025.