Health care executives increasingly believe in the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to help improve patient outcomes, support cost savings in the health system and promote health equity, a survey has revealed.
The fourth annual Optum Survey on AI in Health Care found 96 per cent of respondents believe AI plays an important role in their effort to reach health equity goals.
In addition, 94 per cent agreed that they have a duty within the health care system to ensure AI is used responsibly.
Rick Hardy, chief executive officer, Optum Insight, the data and analytics business within Optum said: “This year’s survey findings continue to validate how the responsible use of AI can help health systems strengthen and scale essential functions and reduce administrative burdens, all of which helps clinicians focus on their core mission of patient care.
“We share their enthusiasm for AI, but more importantly, we look forward to combining our health care expertise with AI to help people, patients, physicians, and those working behind the scenes, as that is where the real value is delivered.”
The survey included 500 senior health care executives from leading hospitals, health plans, life sciences companies and employers.
A majority (89 per cent ) of health care executives surveyed believe the challenges in using AI in the health care industry require partnering with a health services company with expertise in data and analytics versus a technology-focused company, as the best way to address them.
AI Implementation Continues
With the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop, the survey responses point to an industry that remains steadfast in its approach to implementing AI.
Eighty-fiver per cent of health care leaders say they have an AI strategy and 48 per cent have implemented it, continuing the upward trend from last year’s results where 83 per cent had an AI strategy and 44 per cent had implemented it.
Overall, 98 per cent of health care organizations either have a strategy or are planning one.
Easing Administrative Burdens, Focusing on Care
Nearly three in four health care leaders (72 per cent) said they trust AI to support nonclinical, administrative processes that take away time clinicians could be spending with patients and delivering care.
This is unchanged from the 71 per cent who said they trust AI to support administrative tasks in 2020.
In addition, health care leaders continue to be optimistic that AI technology will create work opportunities (55 per cent) rather than reduce them (45 per cent). This is similar to last year and up from 52 per cent in 2019.
Steve Griffiths, senior vice president, data and analytics, Optum Labs, the research and development arm of UnitedHealth Group said:
“The responsible use of AI continues to provide important opportunities for health care leaders to streamline administrative processes and provide more effective patient care with enhanced experiences for both patients and providers.
“These leaders are not just users of AI, but they have an opportunity to be looked to as role models across industries in
their commitment to using AI responsibly.”
