Almost twice as many healthcare leaders anticipate a fairly fast return on their AI investment than had that expectation two years ago—59% now vs. 31% then. And only 5% aren’t currently recruiting workers with skills to help make it happen.
The widening ratios turned up in a new survey of 500 senior-level executives representing not only providers but also payers, life sciences companies and other employers with a hand in healthcare.
The survey was commissioned by UnitedHealth Group’s Optum division, which defines a quick ROI as less than three years.
The accelerated timetable owes largely to the targeted adoption of AI for measurable activities like expanding virtual health services and assigning codes for quickened reimbursements.
In its announcement of the findings, Optum draws a straight line between these aims and the pressures of the COVID crisis.
Further, going by the survey results, healthcare leaders as a group will be looking for AI-enabled cost savings faster now than in 2018—an average of 3.6 years now vs. 5.3 years then.
“In addition to building AI competency itself, the ability to act upon AI-driven recommendations is critical,” according to Optum, which notes that 92% of this year’s surveyed executives expect staff who are using AI to understand how it works.
That finding, Optum suggests, “signals the widespread need for knowledge about analytics, predictions and data streams outside of an organization’s traditional information technology or informatics teams.”
The company is offering access to the full survey report in exchange for contact information.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.