Peterson Health Technology Institute Launches AI Taskforce to Drive Efficiency in Healthcare

New York —

The Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) today announced the formation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Taskforce to measure and improve the administrative performance of AI technologies for healthcare providers.

Focused on the operations of hospitals, physician groups, and other providers, the Taskforce will assess AI solutions intended to improve healthcare efficiency by streamlining workflows, optimizing processes, and reducing burden on the clinical workforce.

The Taskforce convenes leaders from large U.S. health systems, including UC San Diego Health, Intermountain Health, Mass General Brigham, Providence, Ochsner Health, and MultiCare, along with leading AI solution companies and industry experts.

The Taskforce will explore a range of topics related to AI-enabled technology implementation in health systems, including:

The group is co-led by Margaret McKenna and Prabhjot Singh MD, PhD, both advisors for PHTI. The Taskforce will issue an initial report, to be published in early 2025, that highlights opportunities for health systems to leverage AI to improve operational efficiency, provider satisfaction, and patient outcomes. The report will also include recommendations for future research and investment, and opportunities to improve measurement on the real-world performance of AI-based technologies. Forthcoming Taskforce publications will focus on additional aspects of AI in improving healthcare administrative efficiency.

“As healthcare providers rapidly adopt new and promising AI solutions, they should be clear-eyed about what they seek to accomplish with AI technology and measure performance against those goals,” said Caroline Pearson, executive director of PHTI. “By bringing together leaders from across the industry, we aim to share insights and drive thoughtful adoption of AI solutions to deliver the efficiency gains the U.S. healthcare system so desperately needs.”

“Leveraging AI effectively is crucial for driving transformation in our healthcare systems,” said Sara Vaezy, executive vice president and chief strategy and digital officer of Providence. “By harnessing these technologies, we can reduce administrative burdens on clinicians and put our collective focus on patient care. This initiative represents a vital opportunity for us to collaborate on innovative solutions that will ultimately improve outcomes for both clinicians and patients alike.”

Nearly 25% of all healthcare spending is considered wasteful, and administrative waste accounts an estimated $266 billion annually in the United States. Administrative inefficiency stems from excessive paperwork, redundant processes, and outdated billing practices. By addressing inefficiencies through the strategic implementation of AI technologies, healthcare systems have the potential to reduce costs and enhance the quality of care, allowing clinicians to spend more time with patients and less time on administrative tasks.

For more information about the new AI Taskforce and the Peterson Health Technology Institute, please visit www.phti.org.