Salesforce launches Agentforce for Health to take on time-consuming tasks in healthcare

Salesforce is doubling down on AI in healthcare, rolling out a ready-made library of AI-powered tools aimed at cutting through red tape. The goal? To hand off tedious, time-consuming tasks to highly autonomous digital assistants, freeing up human workers to focus on actual patient care.

AI in healthcare isn't new, but until recently, it's been more promise than practice. Now, with large language models and generative AI hitting their stride, the tide is turning. And Salesforce thinks its latest offering, Agentforce for Health, could be a game-changer.

How does it work?

Unlike traditional AI assistants that needed a human babysitter, Agentforce for Health runs on what's called agentic AI. This means it can make decisions on its own, working toward a goal with minimal human input.

Here's what it can do:

• Patient access and services: Answer patient questions, check insurance eligibility, and schedule appointments with in-network providers.
• Public health tracking: Monitor disease spread by pulling data from various sources to help epidemiologists stay ahead.
• Clinical support: Speed up research and development for new drugs and medical devices, while also improving patient matching for clinical trials.

And it's not just theoretical. A Salesforce survey found that healthcare teams estimate saving up to 10 hours a week by offloading these tasks to AI agents. That's a full workday back in their pockets.

Why does it matter?

Healthcare workers are drowning in paperwork. Studies show they spend more time on administrative tasks — like scheduling, documentation, and insurance verification — than actually treating patients. It's exhausting, inefficient, and a big contributor to burnout.

Then there's the cost. U.S. healthcare administrative spending sits at a jaw-dropping $1 trillion annually, according to McKinsey. That's a whole lot of money going toward phone calls and paperwork rather than actual healthcare.

Enter Salesforce, which sees an opportunity: offload the drudgery to AI and let human workers focus on what they do best — caring for people.

The context

Salesforce is far from the only tech giant eyeing healthcare. Google's Agentspace platform is another major player, offering similar AI-powered automation. Microsoft is in the mix, too.

So, what's Salesforce's edge? The company argues that its deep roots in customer relationship management (CRM) set it apart, giving it a leg up when it comes to integrating AI into patient interactions. Alongside Agentforce for Health, Salesforce also recently launched Einstein Copilot Health Actions, a conversational AI assistant that has been available since April.

The rollout of Agentforce's new AI skills will continue through September, targeting healthcare providers eager to automate routine work. Whether the industry fully embraces agentic AI remains to be seen, but one thing's clear: healthcare's AI moment is here, and Salesforce wants a front-row seat.