AI for the Healthcare Professional

Famey Lockwood
Oct 7
3 min read

Updated: Oct 21

AI is impacting healthcare across the continuum of care at an unprecedented rate. The Healthcare Professional that is prepared to take advantage of this technology will achieve great benefits for the career. — AI for the Healthcare Professional is a reward with ethical challenges

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t some distant tech experiment anymore —

AI for the healthcare Professional

is underway.

Previously I wrote >>> “Artificial Intelligence is set to disrupt healthcare; changes that will allow humans to gain unprecedented insights into diagnostics, care processes, treatment variability, and patient outcomes.” Well, the day has arrived >> AI is enhancing the skills of medical professionals with an unprecedented level of insight comparable to human experts.

Growth & Trends

How far have we come?

Between 2014 and 2024, the number of AI‑healthcare publications rose dramatically (from 158 in 2014 to 731 in 2024).

The global AI in healthcare market is projected to expand rapidly (CAGR ~47.6%), from about 11.2 billion USD in 2023 to potentially 427.5 USD billion by 2032.

Knowing these statistics, one might conclude that the life and career of the Healthcare Professional has accelerated but, our challenges continue for some domains.

Is the healthcare professional operating more efficiently?

Some valid points:

1)) “The integration of AI not only enhances clinical decision‐making but also streamlines administrative processes, contributing to overall operational efficiency.”

>>> Operational efficiency is our daily grind -- the everyday demands of frontline medicine >> charts, calls, and patient care.

2)) From supporting the automation of EHR documentation to the ER triage, AI is stepping in to handle the repetitive and administrative tasks that often consume clinicians’ time and energy.

>>> This affords the Healthcare Professional the opportunity to optimize their time allocation across workflows—prioritizing high-value activities such as diagnostics, patient engagement, and complex decision-making.

3)) In a profession where burnout is closely tied to repetitive administrative tasks, AI-driven tools are more than just tech upgrades — they’re lifelines for preserving mental energy and professional focus.

>>> It's not just about speed — it's about reclaiming bandwidth in a system stretched “human thin”.

Where to from here:

As AI becomes embedded in electronic health records (EHRs), coding tools, and revenue cycle systems, robust data governance and ethics are more crucial than ever.

Data Governance for healthcare AI:

Strong data governance covers many domains >> data quality, patient privacy, policy and compliance

— all essential for building equitable and trustworthy AI in healthcare. Our current healthcare model affords much “trust” in the medical professional especially, the physician. As AI becomes more integrated into clinical care, preserving that trust requires ensuring that AI systems are held to the same ethical and professional standards.

Ethics for healthcare AI:

The medical community, along with many other professions, are asking valid questions about the use of AI in healthcare from an ethical perspective.

For example, regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, and other policies that govern data use, may lag behind addressing AI in the current governance structure.

Accuracy in documentation and coding must also be addressed. The risk of “upcoding or under-coding” has multiple outcomes – financial gain or loss with penalties as we all know.

>>> AI used for billing optimization may unintentionally (or intentionally) encourage unethical coding.

The Insight:

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant disruptor — it is now actively transforming healthcare, enhancing the capabilities of medical professionals, streamlining operations, and reshaping clinical workflows.

AI is not just a replacement for the healthcare professional but will function as a powerful partner now and for the future.

Opportunities in healthcare are expanding as AI transforms the field — offering new roles, careers, and leadership opportunities. But with these opportunities comes a responsibility: each of us must actively engage in learning about both the benefits and limitations of AI, so we can apply it ethically, effectively, and confidently in our professional practice.