AI Revolution in Healthcare Demands Multidimensional Leadership
Healthcare organizations are facing unprecedented challenges with escalating operational costs and growing demands for patient services. New research sheds light on how healthcare leaders can address these challenges by harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for better patient outcomes and improved operational efficiency.
The research findings are contained in the paper, “Leadership for AI Transformation in Health Care Organization: Scoping Review”, published in the prestigious Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR). The paper is co-authored by Abi Sriharan, Scientific Director and Senior Scientist – AI and Healthcare Organizations at Schulich’s Krembil Centre for Health Management and Leadership.
The research, which conducted a comprehensive review of literature spanning from 2015 to 2023, explores how healthcare leaders can foster AI adoption across multiple facets of their organizations. According to the findings, effective leadership is the cornerstone of successful AI integration, requiring a multifaceted approach that spans technological, strategic, operational, and organizational domains.
“Healthcare leaders must go beyond simply adopting AI technologies – they must lead with a comprehensive strategy that encompasses both technical and human aspects,” says Dr. Sriharan. “Successful leaders in this field demonstrate a unique combination of technical expertise, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills to navigate a rapidly changing healthcare landscape influenced by complex regulatory, technological, and organizational challenges.”
To meet the demands of AI-driven healthcare, the research calls for healthcare organizations to implement targeted leadership development programs that focus on equipping current and future leaders with the skills needed to manage the AI transformation effectively.
“AI transformation in healthcare is not solely a technological challenge but one of leadership, and the key to unlocking AI’s potential in healthcare lies in developing leaders who are not only tech-savvy but also equipped with the interpersonal skills necessary to steer their teams toward success,” says Dr. Sriharan.
The Krembil Centre for Health Management and Leadership carries out collaborative research with industry and other health care organizations to generate cutting-edge management knowledge in health administration and is helping to develop the next generation of future health care leaders by supporting research, degree programs, executive training, and student scholarship support.