Amid the hype and promise, a growing tension is becoming clear: the reality of what AI can deliver versus what it can't.
Welcome to our September 2024 cover story. Each month, our editors will be taking a deep dive into the topics that matter most to you in our cover story series. From ways to win the payer/provider war to the new era of the APP, we've been working hard this year.
So, what did our team look into this month? Well, healthcare is in the middle of an evolution. Faced with a continuing decline in doctors and nurses and an increase in clinical care needs, health systems and hospitals are looking to AI to fill in the gaps.
Amid the hype and promise, a growing tension is becoming clear: the reality of what AI can deliver versus what it can’t. While advocates tout AI’s potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, the technology still faces significant hurdles in most areas.
That may not be what a healthcare industry fraught with waste, burnout and misaligned incentives wants to hear, but that’s what we’ve got.
Our innovation and technology editor, Eric Wicklund, spoke to some of the best in the industry about how healthcare is finally coming to grips with what AI can and can’t do, and who should be worried.
Did you miss our August cover story on the future of vitual nursing? No worries, you can read it here.
Amanda Norris is the Director of Content for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The healthcare industry is eager to adopt AI for clinical care, but the technology’s current limitations and immaturity raise concerns about its ability to deliver on its promises.
As AI tools become more integrated into healthcare, ethical concerns, governance complexities, and the cost of maintaining AI systems are significant hurdles that need to be addressed.
While large health systems partner with tech giants to explore AI, smaller and resource-limited healthcare providers struggle to implement and govern AI effectively, potentially widening the gap in care quality.