Almost Half of Health Systems Use AI for Workforce Issues 

With support from Outbound AI, the Health Management Academy (the Academy) conducted a survey showing that due to common staffing issues within health systems, many C-suite executives are using artificial intelligence (AI) for back office and clinical operations.

In healthcare, problems surrounding staffing and labor insufficiencies have grown immensely, particularly over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. To compensate for this issue, health systems are increasingly turning to AI.

To gather insights into the state of AI and its utility in addressing workforce issues, the Academy used quantitative survey and qualitative interview methods, polling 40 executives from 40 leading health systems. According to researchers, all involved in the survey were deemed to have a relatively high level of familiarity with AI.

According to the survey, the portion of executives that currently use AI for workforce challenges is just under half (47.5 percent). But the rest (52.5 percent) noted that their health system is considering the implementation of AI for this reason.

It also noted that the order in which AI investments are generally prioritized is back-office processes, clinical operations, and clinical care.

Encompassing revenue cycle, human resources, and supply chain management, back-office processes commonly involve human errors. According to the survey, 78 percent of executives claim that their health systems are either actively using or considering AI for revenue cycle management.

The report also revealed that conversational AI is growing popular among providers. Described as a tool that uses advanced automation, AI, and natural language processing to comprehend human language, conversational AI is currently being used by 27.5 percent of health systems, and 72.5 percent are considering using it.

Additionally, nursing is being targeted for AI investment. According to survey data, 15 percent of executives indicated that their health system is using AI for nursing. However, 82.5 percent stated that their health system is considering its use for this purpose.

Regarding investments, researchers noted that growth appeared likely in the next one to three years. Among those who claimed their health system uses AI for workforce issues, 84.5 percent stated that they plan to increase their use of these solutions in the near future.

Further, in evaluating AI, particularly for revenue cycle management, the survey highlighted which factors executives focus on. These include interoperability with EHRs, privacy and security, the ability to augment EHR capabilities, expected return on investment, and anticipated value (hard and soft) over the course of a three-plus year period.

Additionally, executives leverage various sources when evaluating AI solutions, including existing technologies and partnerships, recommendations from peers, and assessments of successful use cases and real-world return on investment data.

Similarly, a survey from December 2021 found that many healthcare executives were considering AI use to improve patient outcomes, support cost savings, and promote health equity.

The fourth annual Optum Survey on AI in Healthcare included responses from 500 senior healthcare executives from hospitals, health plans, and life sciences companies. Almost all (96 percent) believed AI is critical to achieving health equality goals.

The survey also indicated that 85 percent of health leaders noted that they had an AI strategy at the time, with 48 percent already starting one.