Survey: AI most exciting emerging tech in healthcare

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as the most exciting technology in healthcare, according to a recent survey by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Center for Connected Medicine (CCM). For the fourth consecutive year, healthcare leaders highlighted AI's transformative potential in enhancing clinical care and administrative operations.

As digital transformation accelerates in the healthcare industry, AI stands out as a key area of focus, reflecting a widespread belief in its capacity to revolutionize the field.

How does it work?

AI's capabilities in healthcare span a broad range of applications, from automating administrative tasks to providing sophisticated clinical decision support. Generative AI and large language models are among the specific areas where the technology is making headway. For example, AI can help streamline operations by automating repetitive tasks, enabling healthcare professionals to devote more time to direct patient care. Additionally, AI's potential in "ambient intelligence" — technology that can interpret the environment and human behavior in real time — promises to enhance patient monitoring and care quality.

Despite these advances, challenges remain, particularly regarding AI security and governance.

As Dr. Robert Bart, Chief Medical Information Officer at UPMC, notes, "Health system leaders are understandably excited about the potential for AI to significantly benefit healthcare by automating time-consuming manual tasks and freeing up clinicians to focus more on patient care. But the excitement also must be balanced with a commitment to high-quality care for patients and protections of their data and privacy."

Why does it matter?

AI's transformative potential in healthcare is significant for several reasons. First, it can help address persistent challenges in the industry, such as patient access, care continuity, and provider burnout. Healthcare leaders recognize that these issues are crucial to improving the overall patient experience and operational efficiency.

The survey also indicates that AI is the area where the most progress has been made over the past two years, with applications like clinical decision support and remote patient monitoring offering new avenues for improving patient outcomes.

AI is also vital for its ability to handle and analyze large datasets. Many healthcare organizations struggle with siloed data that is not readily accessible or usable. By leveraging AI for data aggregation and analytics, health systems can break down these silos, making data more actionable and driving better decision-making.

The context

The CCM survey captures a snapshot of healthcare leaders' priorities and concerns as they navigate the industry's digital transformation. Alongside AI, other emerging technologies like remote patient monitoring, robotic process automation, virtual care, and interoperability are also gaining traction. These innovations are improving patient care and reshaping healthcare operations to be more efficient and responsive.

However, the survey also underscores that the path forward is not without its obstacles. Issues around data governance, security, and integration remain critical areas of focus as health systems strive to balance innovation with patient safety and privacy. As a previous CCM report highlighted, oversight of AI tools is increasingly important to healthcare executives, reflecting a growing awareness of the need for responsible AI deployment.

The bottom line is - AI is at the forefront of healthcare's digital evolution, offering promising solutions to longstanding challenges. As healthcare organizations continue to adopt and integrate these technologies, they must also remain vigilant about maintaining high standards of care and safeguarding patient data.