Strategies for supporting physicians in adopting AI tools through practical implementation guidance, clinical evidence, comprehensive training, and policy frameworks

Before talking about strategies, it is important to understand how top healthcare groups see AI. The American Medical Association (AMA), which represents many U.S. doctors, uses the term “augmented intelligence” instead of artificial intelligence. This name shows that AI is meant to help and support doctors, not take their place. AI tools are made to assist with clinical decisions, reduce paperwork, and improve patient care.

The AMA supports a view where AI is created and used in honest and clear ways. This helps both doctors and patients know how AI systems work. It means being open about AI’s role in patient care and office tasks. It also involves dealing with doctor responsibility and keeping patient information private.

Practical Implementation Guidance for AI Adoption

A big problem stopping many doctors from using AI is the lack of clear help on how to put these new tools into practice. Many AI tools exist, but doctors are often not sure how to use them well each day.

The AMA and other experts suggest detailed plans made for each medical practice. These plans should include:

  • Step-by-step instructions for using AI tools with existing electronic health records (EHR) and office software.
  • Trying AI tools first in small parts of the practice to find out what works and what does not.
  • Clear talking with doctors about what the AI tool does and how it affects their decisions or office work.
  • Watching how AI tools work and providing help to make changes based on doctor feedback and results.

Practice managers and IT staff should lead these efforts. They need to work closely with doctors so using AI does not add extra work or interfere with patient care.

They must also make sure AI follows all relevant healthcare rules and policies. This includes protecting patient privacy and computer security. The AMA says being open about how AI helps with clinical and office decisions is very important for keeping doctor trust.

Importance of Clinical Evidence to Support AI Use

One of the biggest worries for doctors using AI is having strong clinical proof that AI really helps. Many want to be sure that AI tools are tested by scientific studies and show clear benefits for patient care or office efficiency.

Research from the AMA shows doctors are more interested in AI, but they still worry about a lack of good evidence and clear guidance on how to use it. To support AI use, healthcare groups should:

  • Work with AI makers to join research that tests how safe and effective AI tools are.
  • Collect and study real data on how AI works in clinical practice.
  • Share examples and results showing how AI helped improve work or patient care.
  • Give doctors access to trusted studies and guidelines about AI tools in medicine.

Practice managers can lead or help with these research efforts. They might also team up with universities and AI companies for trials or performance reviews.

Comprehensive Training Programs for Physicians and Staff

Training is very important when introducing new technology in healthcare. Doctors and staff need to learn about AI, how to use it well, and understand any limits and ethical issues.

The AMA’s STEPS Forward® program offers free resources that count as medical education credits. These help doctors safely add AI to their daily work. The training covers:

  • How AI algorithms work and how they assist people.
  • Ethical issues and bias in AI design and use.
  • Practical examples showing how to add AI to workflows.
  • How to handle changes in doctors’ workloads caused by AI tools.
  • Understanding legal duties related to AI use and doctor responsibility.

Practice leaders and IT staff should provide these learning opportunities. Repeated training builds confidence and reduces worries about new technology. It also helps the whole care team use AI better to help patients and reduce office tasks.

Training should also include healthcare support staff like medical assistants and billing coders. These workers often use AI systems that handle things like appointment scheduling and phone answering.

Policy Frameworks Guiding AI Use in Healthcare Practices

Creating policies for AI use in medical offices is important to make sure AI is used responsibly, ethically, and legally.

The AMA has given recommendations that focus on:

  • Transparency: Patients and doctors should be told when AI helps with care or office decisions.
  • Physician Liability: Clear rules must explain doctor responsibilities and legal risks when AI is used in diagnosis, treatment, or records.
  • Data Privacy & Cybersecurity: AI must follow laws like HIPAA to keep patient data safe.
  • Governance: Regular checks and oversight make sure AI works safely and does not cause bias or harm.
  • Payment & Coding: The AMA’s Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group updated billing codes for AI services so they can be tracked and paid properly.

Practice managers and IT leaders should create office policies based on AMA advice and federal rules. These help lower risks and build trust that AI use is safe and useful.

AI Integration and Workflow Automation in Healthcare Practices

One key part of supporting AI use is adding AI functions into current clinical and office workflows. This can lower doctor workload and make the practice run better.

AI-powered workflow automation is growing fast to handle routine tasks in healthcare. The AHIMA Virtual AI Summit in 2025 noted that many non-clinical AI tools quietly automate time-consuming jobs in healthcare operations. Examples include:

  • Clinical notes systems that “listen” to doctor-patient talks and create notes automatically in real time, reducing manual work and boosting accuracy.
  • AI phone answering and front-office automation for appointment booking, patient calls, reminders, and insurance checks without human help.
  • Large language models (LLMs) that help AI understand natural speech, making notes and communication better.
  • Automated steps for medical coding, billing, and payment that improve rule-following and cut errors.
  • AI tools that keep patient records accurate, which is important for billing and quality reports.

Practice managers, owners, and IT staff should look at how AI automation fits their practice needs. For example, Simbo AI offers phone automation that helps cut missed calls and lost appointments by handling patient contacts with AI-based systems. This kind of automation improves patient access and frees staff for other tasks.

Training staff to use automated systems and checking how these tools perform helps make AI adoption successful. Adding AI should not create extra work but should help doctors and staff use their time better.

The Role of Physician Leadership in AI Adoption

The AMA stresses involving doctors in creating, managing, and using AI tools. Doctors are the final users, and their needs and opinions are important to make AI that works well in real healthcare.

In 2025, the AMA started the Center for Digital Health and AI to put doctors in charge of guiding AI progress. This group also helps with policy and supports doctor leadership in digital healthcare.

Healthcare groups should encourage doctor leaders to work with IT staff and AI companies. This teamwork helps make sure AI tools fit clinical work, keep care quality high, and protect patient safety.

Supporting Physicians through AI Tool Adoption: Key Action Points for Medical Practice Administrators and IT Managers

Here are main actions healthcare management should focus on to support AI use by doctors:

  • Create practical AI plans tailored to each practice that add new tools smoothly to current workflows.
  • Make research and clinical evidence about AI benefits easy to get.
  • Offer full training programs on AI, covering how to use the tech, ethical worries, and legal risks.
  • Develop office policies that follow AMA advice on openness, liability, and data safety.
  • Spend on AI workflow automation like automatic documentation and phone systems to lower office work.
  • Get doctors involved in AI management and choices to keep clinical value and user satisfaction.
  • Watch how AI tools work and keep an open feedback system to improve AI use.
  • Work with AI vendors to customize solutions that fit specific practice or health system needs.

Helping doctors use AI tools is not simple but is needed as AI use grows in U.S. healthcare. By focusing on clear guidance, research, training, good policies, and workflow automation, healthcare leaders can help doctors get the most from AI while keeping care quality and office efficiency high.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between artificial intelligence and augmented intelligence in healthcare?

The AMA defines augmented intelligence as AI’s assistive role that enhances human intelligence rather than replaces it, emphasizing collaboration between AI tools and clinicians to improve healthcare outcomes.

What are the AMA’s policies on AI development, deployment, and use in healthcare?

The AMA advocates for ethical, equitable, and responsible design and use of AI, emphasizing transparency to physicians and patients, oversight of AI tools, handling physician liability, and protecting data privacy and cybersecurity.

How do physicians currently perceive AI in healthcare practice?

In 2024, 66% of physicians reported using AI tools, up from 38% in 2023. About 68% see some advantages, reflecting growing enthusiasm but also concerns about implementation and the need for clinical evidence to support adoption.

What roles does AI play in medical education?

AI is transforming medical education by aiding educators and learners, enabling precision education, and becoming a subject for study, ultimately aiming to enhance precision health in patient care.

How is AI integrated into healthcare practice management?

AI algorithms have the potential to transform practice management by improving administrative efficiency and reducing physician burden, but responsible development, implementation, and maintenance are critical to overcoming real-world challenges.

What are the AMA’s recommendations for transparency in AI use within healthcare?

The AMA stresses the importance of transparency to both physicians and patients regarding AI tools, including what AI systems do, how they make decisions, and disclosing AI involvement in care and administrative processes.

How does the AMA address physician liability related to AI-enabled technologies?

The AMA policy highlights the importance of clarifying physician liability when AI tools are used, urging development of guidelines that ensure physicians are aware of their responsibilities while using AI in clinical practice.

What is the significance of CPT® codes in AI and healthcare?

CPT® codes provide a standardized language for reporting AI-enabled medical procedures and services, facilitating seamless processing, reimbursement, and analytics, with ongoing AMA support for coding, payment, and coverage pathways.

What are key risks and challenges associated with AI in healthcare practice management?

Challenges include ethical concerns, ensuring AI inclusivity and fairness, data privacy, cybersecurity risks, regulatory compliance, and maintaining physician trust during AI development and deployment phases.

How does the AMA recommend supporting physicians in adopting AI tools?

The AMA suggests providing practical implementation guidance, clinical evidence, training resources, policy frameworks, and collaboration opportunities with technology leaders to help physicians confidently integrate AI into their workflows.