Doing more with less: How AI is reshaping healthcare’s cost equation

AI is everywhere, and in healthcare, leaders are working to separate the noise from what’s working. Some health systems have only taken the first steps, while others are quickly embracing AI and reaping productivity gains. Still, many are waiting for the right moment to join the AI momentum. But one thing is clear: everyone feels the industry’s rising costs and accelerated pace. 

Rising patient volumes, fragmented communication, tighter regulations, and expanding tech stacks are pushing administrative complexity and staff fatigue to a breaking point. 

“What keeps me up at night is that, because of the administrative and clinical burden, we miss things all the time. We miss patients that need follow-up, we miss incidental findings on imaging, we miss gaps that never get closed,” said Dr. Patrick McGill, EVP and Chief Transformation Officer at Community Health Network (CHN). 

It’s time to work smarter. An AI-powered future isn’t just possible, it’s necessary. First, you need the right tools and mindset.

The burden is real. So is the opportunity.

Today, as much as 30% of healthcare spending goes to administration, with insurance-related and provider-based tasks making up the bulk. These tasks are not just costly; they divert staff from valuable patient engagement. Manual processes, disconnected data, and slow workflows all compromise productivity, which in turn compromises the patient experience. 

AI equips health systems to change that. 

At Community Health Network, AI has already delivered over $6.7 million in value by streamlining high-effort tasks. MUSC Health automates 110,000 digital registrations each month, and has avoided 14,500 no-shows by automating appointment reminders. The academic medical center has achieved a 98% patient satisfaction rate since implementing automation workflows across its organization, as staff have more time to focus on higher-value patient care tasks like addressing advanced questions, referrals, and additional face-to-face engagement.

In most health systems, staffing needs exceed the ability to hire. AI helps close those gaps, creating an elastic workforce that can augment existing team members as patient volumes and workloads grow. Automation doesn’t replace your workforce—it multiplies it. That’s what healthcare needs right now.

From reactive to proactive

For too long, healthcare has relied on reactive workflows, addressing issues only after they arise. With AI, health systems can anticipate patient needs and take action earlier, creating a more seamless and supportive care experience. 

At Sturdy Health, automating SDOH and depression screenings not only increased completion rates from 10% to over 55%, but it also triggered tailored workflows for high-risk patients, allowing care teams to intervene earlier with personalized support. Sturdy Health was also able to proactively optimize how it works with its resource partners to deliver care and support for its patients beyond the doors of its building.

At MUSC Health, AI is helping the organization reach more patients in more meaningful ways. By delivering digital touchpoints in patients’ preferred language, MUSC increased digital intake completion among Spanish-speaking patients by 30%. This isn’t just translation—it’s personal outreach at scale, powered by AI Agents that engage diverse populations with timely, relevant outreach. 

Similarly, at NKC Health, automated scheduling eliminates phone tag and gaps in care by allowing patients to self-schedule based on their care needs or provider guidance. AI Agents continuously monitor each patient’s journey and automatically send proactive prompts once requirements like referrals or prior authorizations are in place. The result is personalized outreach, scheduled at the right time, helping patients stay on track without manual intervention from staff. 

With AI handling communication and logistical barriers behind the scenes, care teams gain the bandwidth to focus on high-impact interactions, and patients feel more supported, seen, and ready for care. 

Scaling healthcare AI: What leading health systems are doing differently

The organizations seeing the most impact from AI have one thing in common: they’ve adopted a platform approach that enables them to do more with less. Rather than relying on disconnected point solutions, they’ve embraced configurable AI Agents that work across departments, systems, and workflows. 

The right AI platform should: 

1. Simplify your tech stack
2. Reduce licensing and maintenance overhead
3. Cut integration costs 
4. Extend the capabilities of your existing team 
5. Improve operational ROI

Look for a solution that offers more than automation; one that uses AI to analyze data, suggest next steps, prompt action, and evolve over time. With capabilities like chart review, care gap analysis, and end-to-end workflow executive, AI becomes a proactive partner in elevating care quality and streamlining operations. 

It’s time to act

The demands on healthcare aren’t slowing down. Staffing shortages, rising costs, and care complexity are already stretching teams thin. But AI offers a path forward. 

Here’s what you gain when it’s done right: 

• Labor relief through the automation of repetitive work
• Cost savings by eliminating inefficiencies
• Care improvement through smarter coordination and proactive engagement 
• Sustainable growth without scaling headcount or replacing systems

AI isn’t just a technology shift, it’s a strategic advantage. With the right platform and partner, your organization can do more than just keep up. You can lead.