Are Healthcare Workers Excited About GenAI While Organizations Lag Behind?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- High enthusiasm for GenAI among healthcare professionals.
- Many organizations are unprepared for effective implementation.
- Strategies for standardization and scalability are essential.
- Concerns about clinical decision-making skills erosion.
- Need for formal policies and training on GenAI.
New Delhi, June 13 (NationPress) While healthcare professionals strongly acknowledge the revolutionary capabilities of generative AI (GenAI) in tackling sustainability challenges, including the workforce crisis, the majority of organizations are not adequately prepared to leverage its full potential, as reported on Friday.
The latest findings from Wolters Kluwer Health indicate a significant enthusiasm among healthcare workers to utilize GenAI for addressing pressing issues such as workforce shortages, burnout, elevated healthcare expenses, and increasing administrative tasks, alongside a genuine interest in employing GenAI for enhanced innovation and efficiency throughout their enterprises.
However, the findings, derived from a survey of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and administrators, reveal a notable gap between organizational aspirations regarding GenAI and their actual readiness to fulfill those ambitions.
For instance, while 80 percent of respondents identified “optimizing workflows” as a primary organizational objective, only 63 percent feel equipped to use GenAI to achieve it.
“GenAI presents a remarkable opportunity to act as a catalyst for sustainability in healthcare organizations today, while also preparing them for a more efficient future,” stated Greg Samios, CEO of Wolters Kluwer Health.
“The real challenge lies in formulating a strategy that can enhance the current state in a highly unpredictable environment while simultaneously providing organizations with the digital capabilities necessary to stay competitive in the coming years. Currently, organizations risk falling behind unless they adopt a more unified approach to make GenAI standardized, scalable, and effective,” he added.
The report highlighted that technologies powered by GenAI are expected to be instrumental in resolving persistent challenges, including alleviating the burdens of prior authorizations (67 percent), managing electronic health records (EHR) (62 percent), enhancing cybersecurity readiness (68 percent), and bolstering telehealth/virtual care initiatives (65 percent).
Yet, only 18 percent of survey participants reported awareness of formal policies governing GenAI application, with just one in five indicating that they were required to undergo structured training.
This has led to more than half (57 percent) expressing concerns that excessive dependence on GenAI might undermine clinical decision-making abilities. Additionally, 55 percent are worried that the lack of transparency surrounding GenAI’s potential role in diagnoses could lead to ambiguous reasoning in patient-facing decisions.