Pace of AI adoption in medical groups quickens in 2024

Just like when smartphones introduced a plethora of apps over a decade ago, today’s technological revolution in healthcare means that for a widening array of clinical and operational tasks, there’s an AI for that.

An Oct. 8, 2024, MGMA Stat poll found that more than four out of 10 medical groups (43%) report adding or expanding use of AI this year, while 53% did not; another 4% of respondents were unsure. The poll had 422 applicable answers.

This marks a significant expansion beyond a similar poll in 2023, in which only one in five (21%) of groups noted adding or expanding AI tools compared to nearly three in four groups (74%) that had not taken this step.

Top AI uses today in medical groups

Among respondents whose organizations added or expanded AI tools this year, the most common uses of AI technology were:

• Ambient AI/scribing technology to assist with transcription, note drafting and other elements of documentation
• Clinical/diagnostic technologies in areas such as imaging
• Tools to help triage inbound communications via phone, text and fax to route messages to the appropriate departments/teams
• Chatbots and external patient communications, as well as patient scheduling solutions
• Revenue cycle management (RCM) platforms using AI in multiple areas, including prior authorization, claim status and chart scrapping
• Assorted generative AI (genAI) tools such as ChatGPT or large language models (LLMs) for other assorted tasks.

How much more will AI grow in the short term?

While the majority of this latest poll’s respondents had not taken steps to implement new or expanded AI tools this year, nearly half of them (45%) said they are going to move forward with some form of AI tool in the next year, compared to 37% who reported they would not and another 18% that responded “maybe” or “unsure.”

A closer look at responses from practice leaders who had not added AI tools this year and did not expect to in the year ahead finds:

• Concerns around having sufficient IT budget
• Needing more planning time or support from physicians
• Better understanding of the benefits of AI tools and/or return on investment
• Trust, liability and security concerns
• Simply not having the needed bandwidth to initiate an AI implementation project.

Practice leaders who expect to adopt new AI tools in the coming year largely cited the promise of improved productivity and revenue, cost reduction and streamlined patient-facing processes as their rationale. Some also signaled a deliberate, slower approach to allow the market for AI products to mature and find use cases from similar organizations to better assess ROI.

Join MGMA Stat

Our ability at MGMA to provide great resources, education and advocacy depends on a strong feedback loop with healthcare leaders. To be part of this effort, sign up for MGMA Stat and make your voice heard in our weekly polls. Sign up by texting “STAT” to 33550 or visit mgma.com/stat. Polls will be sent to your phone via text message.
 
Do you have any best practices or success stories to share on this topic? Please let us know by emailing us at connection@mgma.com.