Recent surveys show that 94% of healthcare organizations in the U.S. see AI as essential to their work. About 86% are already using AI technologies. Of these, 27% have adopted agentic AI systems—these are AI programs that work on their own with little human help—while another 39% plan to use them within the next year. These numbers show how quickly AI is being used in healthcare and that leaders trust AI to change how care is given and managed.
Agentic AI systems help solve common problems like long patient wait times, staff burnout, and shortages by handling routine tasks and some clinical work. For example, AI can manage patient appointments and waitlists, lowering no-shows and using resources better. In pharmacies, AI checks doses and tracks medicines. In cancer care, AI supports diagnosis and treatment choices.
Even with widespread AI use, putting AI systems in place needs more than just new software. Success depends on combining human skills, improving clinical and office processes, and making sure technology systems work well together. This is called a holistic and orchestrated approach.
One big lesson for healthcare groups is that AI cannot work well by itself. Almost 91% of organizations say it is very important to connect people, procedures, and technology to adopt AI properly. AI tools should help current workflows, support staff decisions, and fit easily into the healthcare system.
Kyle Knoke, who has a lot of experience with electronic health records (EHR), says it is important to start with standard workflows suggested by platforms like Epic. Customizing should only happen when necessary. This keeps the system stable and makes future updates easier while letting AI work well within the IT setup. Too many custom changes can cause problems when fixing systems or adding AI later. This balanced way is important.
Good governance is also key. Many healthcare leaders agree that clear decision-making and involving frontline workers are important. When those closest to daily work make decisions, they can respond faster and match AI tools to real needs. This creates a system where feedback and improvements continue over time.
Also, teams that include clinical staff, IT experts, and administrators working together can share knowledge, solve problems early, and help users accept AI. This team approach improves efficiency and keeps AI changes going after the initial setup.
Using AI brings concerns that leaders must take seriously. About 57% of healthcare leaders worry about patient privacy and data security with AI tools. Protecting health data means following strict cybersecurity rules and laws like HIPAA. AI systems must handle data responsibly.
Bias in AI advice is another worry for 49% of professionals. AI learns from the data it is trained on. If this data is biased or missing parts, it can cause unfair results. Healthcare groups are working on better algorithms, clear workflows, and audits to reduce this risk.
Interestingly, 31% of organizations say success with AI depends more on people than the technology itself. Leadership, staff involvement, training, and clear communication are very important. Staff usually feel positive about AI when it helps them instead of replacing them. For example, 37% of employees think AI can lead to better work-life balance, and 33% say it improves job performance and creates new career chances.
Many U.S. healthcare providers want AI to assist workers, reduce workload, and improve patient care rather than replace staff.
Putting AI into healthcare requires connecting many systems and workflows smoothly. This approach makes sure AI tools work together well and improve operations instead of creating separate problems.
Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems: Using EHR systems well is a big challenge. Only 38% of healthcare leaders say their EHR setups are successful. AI works best when integrated with EHR platforms so users can easily access and use data. Strong governance and ongoing support help keep systems stable and get the most benefits from AI.
Patient Scheduling and Waitlist Management: AI can automate booking appointments, send reminders, and manage waitlists in real time. Over 55% of healthcare groups have started or are close to adding these tools. This lowers admin work and makes it easier for patients to get care.
Pharmacy Services: AI helps with medication tasks like checking doses, spotting errors, and tracking patient use. Almost half (47%) use AI in pharmacies, making medication safer and more efficient.
Diagnostics and Clinical Decision Support: AI in diagnostics is growing, with 42% using or planning to use it. AI improves accuracy in reading images and lab results. It helps doctors make better decisions, reduces waiting, and tailors treatments. In cancer care, 37% already use AI.
Remote Monitoring: AI-based remote monitoring tracks patient health outside the clinic. This helps manage chronic diseases and lowers hospital returns. About a third (33%) of organizations are moving toward this.
For AI to work well, data must flow smoothly between EHRs, labs, monitoring devices, and admin tools.
AI automation can lower pressure on healthcare staff and improve operations. Automating routine work helps clinical teams spend more time caring for patients. This can lead to better results and satisfaction.
To automate successfully, organizations need to understand healthcare processes and systems deeply. AI solutions must work well with older systems and follow legal and ethical rules.
How people accept and use AI often decides its long-term success, especially in U.S. healthcare where teams handle complex work. About 31% of leaders say staff acceptance, training, and ongoing support matter more than technology features.
Jesse Tutt from Alberta Health Services shared that working with an AI partner saved more than 238 years of cumulative work hours quickly. This allowed staff to focus on patients instead of paperwork. He also said that support technologies that help AI programs share data with enterprise systems are important to get full benefits.
Healthcare groups that want to improve efficiency and patient experience should focus on engaging their workforce along with technology by:
Medical practice leaders and IT managers in the U.S. face unique rules, operations, and cultures. AI use must fit these local factors to work well.
Medical practice leaders and IT managers who use a connected approach to AI will better handle staffing issues, improve patient results, and keep up with changing healthcare needs. Connecting people, processes, and systems while managing governance, security, and user acceptance is key. The future of healthcare in the U.S. depends on AI solutions that support, not replace, healthcare workers serving communities.
27% of healthcare organizations report using agentic AI for automation, with an additional 39% planning to adopt it within the next year, indicating rapid adoption in the healthcare sector.
Agentic AI refers to autonomous AI agents that perform complex tasks independently. In healthcare, it aims to reduce burnout and patient wait times by handling routine work and addressing staffing shortages, although currently still requiring some human oversight.
Vertical AI agents are specialized AI systems designed for specific industries or tasks. In healthcare, they use process-specific data to deliver precise and targeted automations tailored to medical workflows.
Key concerns include patient data privacy (57%) and potential biases in medical advice (49%). Governance focuses on ensuring security, transparency, auditability, and appropriate training of AI models to mitigate these risks.
Many believe AI adoption will improve work-life balance (37%), help staff do their jobs better (33%), and offer new career opportunities (33%), positioning AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for healthcare workers.
Currently, AI is embedded in patient scheduling (55%), pharmacy (47%), and cancer services (37%). Within two years, it is expected to expand to diagnostics (42%), remote monitoring (33%), and clinical decision support (32%).
AI automates scheduling by providing real-time self-service booking, personalized reminders, and allowing patients to access and update medical records, thus reducing no-shows and administrative burden.
AI supports medication management through dosage calculations, error checking, timely medication delivery, and enabling patients to report symptom changes, enhancing medication safety and efficiency.
AI reduces wait times, assists in diagnosis through machine learning, and offers treatment recommendations, helping clinicians make faster and more accurate decisions for personalized patient care.
91% of healthcare organizations recognize that successful AI implementation requires holistic planning, integrating automation tools to connect processes, people, and systems with centralized management for continuous improvement.