Physicians warming to AI, new survey shows

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The use of artificial intelligence in healthcare is gaining popularity among physicians, finds a new survey from the American Medical Association, though many remain guarded in their enthusiasm due to lingering concerns.

About 35% of physicians expressed more enthusiasm than concern – up from the 30% who felt the same last year. The portion of physicians whose concerns exceeded their enthusiasm for health AI decreased to 25% in 2024 from 29% in 2023, and about two in five physicians remain equally excited and concerned about health AI, with almost no change between 2023 and 2024.

In particular, physicians are increasingly intrigued by AI’s power as a clinical assistant, and in its potential to reduce administrative burdens, enhance diagnostic accuracy and personalize treatments.

WHAT’S THE IMPACT

The survey found that despite the enthusiasm, many physicians have unresolved concerns with the design of health AI, and the potential of AI-enabled tools to put privacy at risk, offer incorrect conclusions or integrate poorly in EHR systems.

A majority (68%) of physicians surveyed in 2024 indicated they see definite or some advantage to using AI tools, up slightly from 65% in 2023. About 66% said they currently use AI in their practice, up significantly from 38% last year.

The top area of opportunity for AI, according to 57% of physicians, was “addressing administrative burden through automation,” up slightly from 56% in 2023.

Physicians also said that the top attributes required to advance adoption of AI tools were a designated feedback channel (88%), data privacy assurances (87%), and EHR integration (84%). In 2023, the top attributes were data privacy assurances (87%), not being held liable for AI model errors (87%), and medical liability coverage (86%).

THE LARGER TREND

More than half of health system leaders and insurance executives are calling artificial intelligence an “immediate priority,” and 73% of organizations said they were growing their financial commitments to the technology, according to a November Define Ventures survey.

Seventy-three percent of organizations have established governance structures, which can align AI incentives with organizational values.

Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.