Health care has long used technology to improve patient care. Electronic health records are one of the most profound examples of technology that has reshaped work and jobs in health care. Now, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), many believe this technology can help health care workers operate more efficiently and spend more time on patient-focused tasks. At Healthforce Center, we’re tracking how AI is affecting and shaping jobs and what it means for people working in health care.
AI has the potential to make some jobs easier, but there are also worries that AI may replace some tasks and could eliminate jobs. There is also a concern that AI will change job quality and exacerbate the significant burnout that already exists among health workers. For all these reasons and more, it is important to think carefully about how we implement AI in health care.
Healthforce Center brings deep expertise in understanding the health care workforce and how it is shaped by environmental trends, technology, policy, and system-level changes. As thought leaders, we are positioned to help decision makers, employers, funders, policymakers, and educators think critically about how AI will affect the future of work in health care—not only by identifying which tasks and roles are at risk, but also by highlighting where new opportunities may emerge.
Our priority is to identify the evidence needed to guide responsible AI integration for health workers. We begin by asking, “What is the evidence on how AI is affecting the health workforce?”—a question explored in our recently published annotated bibliography. We anticipate that this beginning could lead to exploring the kinds of training and skills health workers will need as AI is integrated into workflows and identifying the policy levers that can ensure these changes lead to better jobs.
Healthforce Center supports efforts to build a health care system where AI enhances—not replaces—the essential human element of care. We aim to shape the research agenda, inform policy decisions, and support workforce strategies that protect equity, improve job quality, and ultimately lead to better care for all.