Leading healthcare organizations are all-in on AI — but patients aren’t sure yet. 

The buzz around AI technology shows no signs of slowing down. Leading global healthcare organizations are exploring ways to incorporate this technology into their operations. Experts anticipate that AI and machine learning will improve accuracy in diagnosis and treatment and streamline operations, although the adoption process is likely to be slow. 

However, many patients are wary of this switch to automated technology. A recent survey from Carta Healthcare indicates that three out of four patients in the United States don’t trust artificial intelligence in a healthcare setting. This distrust may be due in part to a lack of knowledge and familiarity, as roughly 40% of the survey respondents indicated that their understanding of AI technology is limited. 

How can healthcare providers help patients feel more comfortable with these emerging technologies? Transparency is key. The Carta Healthcare survey indicated that right now, four out of five respondents don’t know whether or not their healthcare providers are using AI technology. Two-thirds of survey respondents stated that an explanation of their provider’s AI use would make them feel more comfortable. 

Despite patient distrust, healthcare organizations are continuing to develop and test new applications for machine learning. Many of these innovations are very promising and could provide safer and more efficient care for patients. For example, research from MedStar Health and Georgetown University School of Medicine recently found that semi-automated review processes could potentially reduce medication errors.

AI technology could also help healthcare systems speed up administrative processes and manage budgets. Moody’s Investor Service has noted that AI could potentially handle administrative tasks and improve revenue cycles. This change helps staff spend more time on patient-focused care, and could even result in reduced personnel expenses. 

Today’s healthcare workers are experiencing unprecedented levels of burnout.

Mental and physical burnout are two of the biggest challenges facing healthcare workers today. Recent CDC survey data indicates that 46% of polled healthcare workers felt burned out in 2022, compared to 32% in 2018. 

Rates of harassment at work have also doubled between 2018 and 2022. This dramatic increase in harassment on the job has many healthcare professionals considering other career paths. Nearly 50% of healthcare workers surveyed indicated that they were interested in seeking another job outside of the industry.

These increases in burnout and harassment have resulted in concerning staffing shortages across the US. The American healthcare system is expected to face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034. A lack of qualified physicians results in longer wait times for appointments and poorer health outcomes for patients. 

The American Medical Association recently urged Congress to take legislative action to address these issues. The AMA cites changes to Medicare, the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, and the increasingly bureaucratic nature of the healthcare industry as top reasons for physician burnout. Economic concerns are also present for many physicians and healthcare staffers, particularly as worker compensation hasn’t kept up with high rates of inflation. 

The AMA has also found that four in 10 physicians avoid seeking necessary mental health treatment due to fear of repercussions from their medical board or employer. Many unionized healthcare workers across the country have launched strikes over the last year, with the goal of improving working conditions and overall mental health. One of the latest examples is the Kaiser Permanente strike in Oregon and Washington in early November. 

As these high rates of burnout continue to plague the healthcare industry, many experts are turning to technology. Recent research from New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine illustrated ways that AI technology could identify signs of mental stress in healthcare workers and potentially provide solutions. For example, AI could be used to streamline workflows and reduce pressure put on workers. 

Our understanding of COVID-19 vaccines is growing, while distribution remains a challenge.

Nearly four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers continue to learn more about the long-term effects of its vaccines. Many recent studies on the long-term effects of these vaccines are promising.

For example, a recent study by top Canadian infectious disease researchers indicates that babies whose mothers were vaccinated experienced some level of immunity to COVID-19 for the first six months of their life. These babies experienced lower risk of severe neonatal morbidity, neonatal death, or admission to neonatal intensive care units. 

Another recent study based in Israel showed that the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech reduces the risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome by 59%. The risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome is six times higher in COVID-19 patients during the first six weeks following the infection. 

Pfizer is also looking to combine an updated COVID-19 vaccine with a flu shot. This combination vaccine has successfully passed the first two phases of clinical trials and should enter the third phase of trials in the next few months. 

While vaccine research continues to deliver positive results, distribution continues to be a challenge. Pfizer and Moderna have both released updated COVID-19 vaccines for fall 2023, but as of late October, only 3 percent of Americans have received this new vaccination. In particular, nursing homes have struggled to acquire enough doses to safely vaccinate their residents due to supply chain issues. 

These distribution issues aren’t unique to nursing homes or COVID-19 boosters. Healthcare organizations have struggled to distribute many different types of vaccines to adult patients. There are a variety of reasons for this—many patients don’t know which vaccines to get or where to get them, and encounter insurance or payment issues when they do. 

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Rising costs are a barrier to care, particularly for marginalized groups

Healthcare costs have risen significantly over the past year, and patients throughout the US are struggling to keep up. Annual premiums for family insurance increased 7% from 2022 to 2023, the largest year-over-year increase of the past decade. One in 10 Americans carry more than $250 in medical debt.

These rising healthcare costs are putting a strain on people of all economic backgrounds, regardless of their access to insurance. According to a recent survey from Commonwealth Fund, 43% of people with employer-provided insurance and 57% of people with Affordable Care Act marketplace plans struggle to find affordable healthcare options. This indicates that today’s insurance options just aren’t keeping up with rapidly growing healthcare costs. 

Increasing healthcare costs have serious consequences for patients. Nearly 40% of respondents in the Commonwealth Fund survey stated that they had put off getting medical care or prescription drugs that they needed because they couldn’t afford it. A majority of those respondents also indicated that delaying care made them sicker later on. 

Marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by rising healthcare costs. According to Deloitte, employed women pay $15.4 billion more than employed men in out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Costs are still disproportionately higher for women when excluding pregnancy-related costs. This is likely because women are encouraged to seek healthcare more often and are more likely to encounter healthcare fees that exceed their deductible. 

Racial minorities also tend to experience a higher financial burden for healthcare than their white counterparts. A 2023 study by the National Institute of Health indicated that the Black and African American populations bore 69% of the economic burden for racial healthcare disparities in the US. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders had the largest economic burden per person. Additionally, racial and ethnic health disparities cost the US economy a shocking $451 billion in 2018. 

Many hospitals are taking steps to correct these inequities. For example, major health systems are
launching initiatives to forgive patient medical debt. Some systems are also hiring hospital equity officers to evaluate and correct racial inequities in their health systems. However, broader societal change will be necessary to fully address these issues. 

GLP-1 receptor agonists continue to rise in popularity for weight loss, but more research is necessary to understand their long-term effects. 

GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have become popular weight loss solutions over the last year. These drugs are also used to treat type 2 diabetes. A recent study from the University of California health system illustrates just how much these drugs have grown in popularity. The study found that Wegovy use among their patients consistently increased by 100% month-over-month for the first year it was on the market. Mounjaro’s growth was even more exponential. For the first seven months that the drug was on the market, its use increased by 200% month-over-month. 

Due to the popularity of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss, many pharmaceutical companies are developing their own versions. Pfizer recently announced that they were developing their own twice-daily pill to target GLP-1. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are also working toward approval for the use of their weight-loss drugs in children as young as 6.

Approval for new GLP-1 receptor agonists could ease supply chain issues. Drugs like Wegovy and Saxenda have faced months-long shortages. These shortages have made it difficult for patients with type 2 diabetes to access the medication they need.

Supply chain challenges have also resulted in counterfeit versions of these drugs hitting the shelves at pharmacies. Regulatory agencies in the United Kingdom and European Union have both uncovered fake versions of Ozempic stemming from suppliers in Austria and Germany. In the United States, Eli Lilly has taken legal action against manufacturers and pharmacies selling “low-grade versions” of Mounjaro.

Although GLP-1 receptor agonists have boomed in popularity, there are still concerns about their long-term effects. This category of drugs, particularly Mounjaro, can interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives. This is likely because of the way that the body absorbs food and medication through the digestive system. While further research is needed, many doctors encourage women to use an additional form of birth control while taking weight loss drugs.