Artificial intelligence is now used in many parts of healthcare, such as helping with diagnoses, managing patient care, and handling administrative jobs. Even though AI has many possible uses, there are challenges to using it well. A study from Sweden that talked to healthcare leaders found three main groups of problems when starting to use AI: outside conditions, the ability to manage change inside the organization, and changes in healthcare jobs and how care is given.
Even though this study was done in Sweden, many of the problems are similar in the U.S. The U.S. has strict rules from groups like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), HIPAA, and other laws at the federal and state levels. These rules add more challenges to using AI. Healthcare leaders need to make sure AI follows privacy and data protection laws.
Also, some healthcare workers and managers are unsure about new technology. They may not trust AI or worry it will replace jobs. These feelings can slow down how fast AI is used.
Ethical issues are a big challenge when using AI in healthcare. Medical administrators in the U.S. must think carefully about these ethics:
To manage these ethics well, organizations need to keep checking their AI, train staff often, and follow professional rules. Healthcare leaders should work closely with lawyers and AI creators to build safe systems focused on ethical use.
Using AI in healthcare means following many legal rules. Several government groups watch over AI use. The FDA controls some AI medical devices to make sure they are safe and work well. Important parts include:
Because of these rules, healthcare groups need to have staff like compliance or privacy officers to watch AI projects. Spending on following laws lowers legal risks and builds trust with patients and regulators.
Healthcare groups must be able to change their systems and processes to use AI. Managing this change means more than just adding new software; it means changing work culture and how things are done.
Healthcare leaders—including administrators, owners, and IT managers—must handle:
Without building this ability to manage change, even good AI tools might not work well. Healthcare leaders should plan carefully and give time for people to adjust.
AI changes healthcare jobs by automating simple tasks and helping with decisions. This means:
This change brings both problems and chances. Medical leaders need to plan for staffing and training as part of AI use.
One real example where AI helps is in front-office tasks. Staff there do many routine jobs like answering calls, scheduling, and giving patients information. AI tools can help with these jobs.
Still, AI must follow ethical and legal rules. It must meet HIPAA standards, and healthcare providers should make sure patients know when AI is used in calls.
To use AI well in U.S. healthcare, different groups must work together. Medical administrators should partner with AI developers, healthcare organizations, lawyers, and government officials to build and use AI properly.
Working together allows:
Collaboration helps avoid patchy AI use and keeps care quality and safety steady for patients.
The Swedish study shows it is important to spend time and resources on putting AI into healthcare. This includes:
Spending well on these steps lowers resistance among healthcare workers and improves the organization’s ability to handle change with AI.
Using AI in U.S. healthcare is not simple and needs more than just new tools. It needs attention to ethics, following laws, changing workplaces, helping workers change, and using AI to improve workflows.
Medical administrators, owners, and IT managers have a big role in guiding their groups through this change. Their choices affect patient safety, care quality, and how well the organization runs.
A good way is to build internal skills, work with outside partners, and invest in planned AI use. With these steps, healthcare groups can use AI’s benefits while keeping ethics and laws in mind.
By handling both human and technical parts of AI, healthcare providers in the U.S. can take steps toward better office work and patient care, helping both patients and staff.
Leaders identified three challenge categories: external conditions to the healthcare system, internal capacity for strategic change management, and necessary transformations within healthcare professions and practices.
Healthcare leaders play a crucial role in the implementation of new technologies, making their insights essential for identifying obstacles and facilitating successful AI integration in healthcare.
The study employed an explorative qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with 26 healthcare leaders, followed by qualitative content analysis.
External factors include regulations, policies, and the broader healthcare environment, which can hinder or facilitate the adoption of AI technologies.
This refers to the organizational ability to adapt structures, processes, and culture to effectively implement AI solutions and navigate the resultant changes.
There may be a need for re-skilling, adapting workflows, and redefining roles to integrate AI technology effectively in healthcare practice.
The study highlights the need for developing specific implementation strategies, enhancing internal capacities, and ensuring collaboration among healthcare organizations, industry partners, and policymakers.
Laws and policies are crucial for regulating AI design and execution, ensuring ethical standards, and promoting effective implementation across healthcare organizations.
Investing time and resources in well-planned implementation processes, with a focus on collaboration, can enhance the adoption and effectiveness of AI technologies.
Future efforts should concentrate on building capacity, addressing identified challenges, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to streamline AI implementation in healthcare.