Can AI Save the Dying American Healthcare System?

More than 130 million Americans currently depend on the healthcare system to treat a chronic condition. But with widespread reports of physician burnout and looming dread about the future of healthcare in the US, it’s hard to deny that change is sorely needed. So, what can be done to save a struggling system and the millions of sick Americans who depend on it? 

Healthcare Professionals’ Biggest Challenges 

According to results published from a 2024 survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of athenahealth, the most pressing challenges in the US healthcare system were reported as widespread overwhelm of administrative workloads, reduced staffing, and higher expectations from patients regarding communication. A staggering 93% of physicians reported experiencing burnout on a regular basis, and 56% were considering either leaving the medical field altogether or remaining but no longer seeing patients. On top of that, less than half believed that they had the resources and/or tools to provide quality care for their patients. 

Physician Burnout Statistics 

In the 2025 installment of the survey, just three out of 10 physicians noted feeling optimistic about the direction that the US healthcare system is headed. The survey, which compiled data from 1,001 physicians nationwide to better understand sentiments about the state of healthcare, found that more than half of those polled were concerned about their organization’s financial health.

Is AI the Answer? 

But as grim as athenahealth’s survey results appear, there is hope. Eighty-three percent of those polled in the 2024 survey were optimistic about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) helping to reduce many of the issues plaguing the American healthcare system.

A Brief History of AI in Healthcare 

Although it certainly feels as though AI came out of nowhere in recent years, its use in the medical field actually dates back to the early 1970s with the advent of INTERNIST-1, the world’s first artificial medical consultant. INTERNIST-1 symbolized a turning point in clinical research and provided a glimpse of AI’s impact on the trajectory of the medical field. Modern iterations of AI in healthcare came about in the 2000s when IBM introduced “Watson,” a question-answering system that paved the way for even more applications in the field.

Transforming Healthcare for the Better 

In more recent years, AI algorithms have proven to be particularly skilled at pulling patient medical histories, analyzing electronic medical records (EMRs), and revealing trends that can assist in creating personalized treatment plans. AI’s impressive ability to parse through large amounts of clinical data quickly means that healthcare providers can more accurately pinpoint disease markers and trends that may otherwise be overlooked.

Additionally, AI saves time by automating repetitive administrative work, such as data entry or appointment scheduling, that athenahealth’s survey identified as a major source of physician burnout. This allows for more time to focus on patient care and revenue cycle management. The 2025 survey revealed that respondents identified transcription services and capabilities and streamlining administrative tasks as AI’s most valuable use cases. A comprehensive AI-powered Chronic Care Management platform can aid in reducing call handling time, generating detailed patient notes from every call, and providing actionable insights from communication data. 

Life-Saving Potential 

Utilizing AI in healthcare contexts reduces human error and produces more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans for each patient. With AI, physicians can also treat a higher number of patients and provide care plans more quickly. 

Concerns About AI 

Of course, innovation often comes with a certain amount of hesitancy. Some providers have expressed a general distrust of integrating AI into their work. At the end of 2023, around 42% of physicians felt that AI would further complicate healthcare, and 40% felt its capabilities were overhyped. 

AI: The Future of Healthcare 

Despite some hesitancy, trust in and enthusiasm for AI among healthcare professionals has grown over the past year amidst rapid developments in the field. athenahealth’s 2025 survey notes that, compared to the previous year’s survey results, the number of physicians who are considering leaving the medical field has decreased, and more are reporting a positive outlook on their profession, as well as wider acknowledgement of the palpable benefits that AI offers.

AI is quickly revolutionizing the healthcare field by allowing for greater efficiency, ultimately reducing physician burnout, and – most importantly – saving patient lives.

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