What's Happening?
Relias has released its 2025 Technology in Healthcare Report, revealing that while 44% of surveyed healthcare professionals believe AI has the potential to improve operational efficiency, more than half are unfamiliar with AI-enabled tools. The report
identifies workforce shortages, compliance pressures, and readiness gaps as significant barriers to technology adoption in patient care settings. Staffing remains the top challenge, with two-thirds of health professionals citing recruitment difficulties. Compliance risks are also a concern, with 38% highlighting training as a major issue. Only 15% of organizations feel 'very ready' to adopt new technology, and VR training remains largely inaccessible due to cost.
Why It's Important?
The slow adoption of healthcare technology, particularly AI, has implications for the efficiency and quality of patient care. Workforce shortages and compliance pressures exacerbate these challenges, potentially hindering advancements in healthcare delivery. Organizations that fail to integrate new technologies may struggle to improve care quality and operational efficiency, impacting patient outcomes and satisfaction. The report underscores the need for targeted efforts to address these barriers and align strategies between leadership and frontline staff.
What's Next?
Healthcare organizations may need to develop strategies to enhance technology readiness and address workforce shortages. This could involve investing in training programs to familiarize staff with AI tools and exploring cost-effective solutions for VR training. Additionally, organizations might consider consolidating platforms to streamline compliance and performance management. As AI continues to evolve, healthcare providers will need to balance technological advancements with maintaining the clinician-patient relationship.
Beyond the Headlines
The report highlights ethical considerations regarding AI's role in healthcare, emphasizing the need for clear boundaries and targeted efforts to alleviate provider burdens while enhancing personalized care. The contrast between managers' familiarity with AI and staff burnout suggests a need for aligned strategies that address both leadership and frontline perspectives.
