Healthcare industry leaders see significant potential for data analytics and AI technology to transform the industry over the next five years, according to new market research report published by Arcadia and The Harris Poll.
The survey, “The Role of the Healthcare CIO in the Age of AI,” explores the potential impact of AI on the healthcare industry and how decision-makers are looking to leverage the technology.
The report found that 96% of healthcare executives surveyed believe that effective adoption of AI could provide them with a competitive advantage today and in the future. About a third of respondents said they view AI as essential today, while 73% said the technology will be essential in the next five years.
How are healthcare systems using AI?
About 63% of respondents said their organizations use these tools to analyze large patient data sets to identify trends and inform. population health management efforts. 58% of executives said they are using AI to analyze individual patient data to highlight opportunities to improve health outcomes. Just under half of respondents said their organizations are using the technology to optimize data analysis and management. DSE.
These results are consistent with the recent “Top of Mind for Top Health Systems” survey, recently published by the Center for Connected Medicine (CCM) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in collaboration with KLAS.
The survey found that health system leaders Consider AI as the most exciting emerging healthcare technologywith significant potential for transforming administration and care.
Much of the hype around AI in healthcare comes from a desire to disrupt data silos and exploit the wealth of clinical data collected by health organizations.
“Healthcare leaders are thoughtfully preparing to harness the full value of AI in reforming care delivery,” Aneesh Chopra, Arcadia’s chief strategy officer, said in a statement. press release“As safe and secure data sharing grows in healthcare, technology leaders are prioritizing data platforms that can organize fragmented patient records into clinically relevant information at every stage of the patient journey.”
Using AI to support strategic priorities
Arcadia survey respondents also highlighted the need for analytics tools to strengthen patient care, with 83% indicating that leveraging data can help healthcare organizations remain resilient and competitive while navigating digital transformation financial obstacles and challenges.
To this end, 84% said their current priorities are related to technology.
Of these, 44% favor an enterprise approach to data analytics. 41% are focused on improving decision-making through AI, and 32% are looking to simplify their technical ecosystems.
This is seen as a way to support other strategic priorities. 40% of respondents indicated that improving the patient experience is a top priority for them, with 35% and 29% aiming to strengthen outcomes and Patient Engagementrespectively.
In terms of progress toward strategic goals, healthcare leaders view AI adoption as largely positive, but barriers remain. The survey found that 96% of respondents are confident in adopting the technology, but feel pressure to do so quickly.
When asked where they thought this pressure was coming from, 82% of executives pointed to data and analytics teams, 78% to IT and technical teams, and 73% to executives.
But easing this pressure and successfully deploying AI in healthcare requires both talent and resources, which some organizations lack.
Nearly 40% of respondents cited talent shortages as a key barrier to AI adoption, highlighting potential skill shifts and the growth needed for IT and analytics teams. IT leaders responding to the survey highlighted this, with 71% indicating an increased demand for data-driven decision-making skills.
Two-thirds of respondents reported increased demand for data analytics skills, machine learning and systems integration, while just under 60% highlighted the demand for training and support roles for healthcare staff.
The changing role of CIOs
To support these AI initiatives, the roles of CIOs and other healthcare leaders are constantly evolving.
The roles of CIOs will likely continue to evolve as data and AI become more pervasive in industry, and many are already seeing these changes. About 87% of CIOs said they see themselves as strategic influencers involved in defining, refining and executing AI strategies within their organization, compared to 13% who said they see themselves solely as strategy executors.
As these role shifts continue, some leaders report feeling “constrained” by the day-to-day operations of their organization. About 58% of respondents said they are primarily focused on day-to-day tactical execution, rather than developing long-term AI and analytics strategies.
However, leaders said that for their efforts to be effective, they would need to devote three-quarters of their time to developing and implementing these strategies.
Some of these strategies are likely to focus on improving communication and workforce readiness, as three in four leaders said there is a lack of effective communication between IT teams and clinical staff that hinders the use of new technologies, while two in five said their clinical staff are not equipped to make the most of data analytics.
“CIOs and their teams are setting the stage for an AI-powered revolution in patient care and healthcare operations,” said Michael Meucci, president and CEO of Arcadia. “Our findings indicate that there is a strong consensus among healthcare CIOs that a strong data foundation is needed to make the future of AI a reality. CIOs also recognize that a human workforce with evolving talents and skills will shape the real impact of AI in healthcare.”
Shania Kennedy has been covering healthcare IT and analytics news since 2022.
