
Generative AI’s potential in healthcare excites patients, offering improved access and cost-effectiveness. Deloitte’s survey unveils patient optimism, with 53% foreseeing AI’s pivotal role in access and 46% expecting cost reductions. While 48% have used generative AI tools, its full engagement remains untapped. Notably, uninsured individuals seek AI for healthcare info, hinting at affordability enhancements. Despite this, trust issues persist among the uninsured. Patients embrace AI to understand conditions, treatment options, and terminology. However, concerns linger regarding AI’s role in clinical decisions. Transparency and governance in AI use are vital, shaping patient-provider interactions for a promising healthcare future.
Generative AI’s integration in healthcare evokes optimism among patients, holding promise for transforming accessibility and affordability. Deloitte’s survey of 2,000 US adult patients reveals significant expectations—53% anticipate AI’s impact on enhancing care access, while 46% foresee cost reductions. Despite growing awareness (84%), full-scale AI utilization remains incomplete. Notably, uninsured individuals display heightened reliance on AI for healthcare inquiries, suggesting potential cost benefits. However, a trust gap persists, especially among the uninsured. Patient usage spans insights into conditions, treatment, and jargon, yet reservations loom around AI’s direct involvement in clinical decisions. Transparency and governance emerge as critical aspects in realizing AI’s transformative potential.
The rising integration of generative AI within healthcare has sparked considerable optimism among patients, signaling potential improvements in both access to care and affordability. According to a recent survey conducted by Deloitte’s Center for Health Solutions encompassing the perspectives of over 2,000 adult patients in the United States, nearly half of the respondents believe that generative AI holds the promise to augment patient access to care and drive down healthcare expenses.
This heightened optimism aligns with the healthcare industry’s exploration of artificial intelligence’s multifaceted applications to streamline operations amidst staffing shortages and to enhance the overall patient experience. Deloitte’s “2023 Health Care Consumer Survey” emphasizes AI as a critical solution on these fronts.
Dr. Asif Dhar, the vice chair and US life sciences and healthcare industry leader at Deloitte, emphasized the survey’s significance in understanding consumers’ viewpoints, stating, “At a time when healthcare costs are a growing concern for many consumers, our survey shows that they believe Generative AI may be the key to reducing costs, improving access, and leveraging it to improve their well-being.”
The survey highlights that while 48 percent of patients have used generative AI tools, the technology has yet to reach its peak engagement levels. However, a significant 84 percent of respondents are aware of generative AI, with 69 percent considering it very reliable for communicating health information.
In terms of usage, around one-fifth of individuals utilizing generative AI for health-related purposes seek deeper insights into medical conditions. Additionally, 16 percent utilize the technology to understand treatment options, while another 15 percent use it to decode complex medical terminology and improve their overall well-being.
Remarkably, the study observes that uninsured individuals tend to engage more frequently with generative AI, particularly for healthcare-related information. This demographic often seeks assistance from generative AI for healthcare inquiries, mental health support, finding suitable healthcare providers, and determining appropriate care facilities, potentially indicating the technology’s ability to enhance healthcare affordability, according to Deloitte researchers.
However, there exists a trust gap among uninsured individuals regarding generative AI compared to their insured counterparts. While 51 percent of insured consumers find generative AI helpful, only a third of uninsured respondents share the same sentiment.
Beyond consumer usage, the study underscores the potential impact of generative AI on healthcare beyond patient interaction. Researchers are exploring how this technology could alter patients’ healthcare understanding outside clinical settings and revolutionize digital patient-provider communication through chatbots. There’s also significant potential for provider use, with patients expressing openness to their healthcare providers integrating generative AI for explanations of health conditions and reviewing lab results. However, fewer patients are comfortable with providers using generative AI for clinical decision-making.
Moreover, transparency around the use of generative AI by healthcare providers is paramount for most patients, with 80 percent emphasizing this need. Deloitte highlights that these patient insights could aid in shaping organizational policies concerning the clinical use of generative AI.
Dr. Bill Fera, a principal at Deloitte Consulting, LLP, stressed the importance of establishing a trustworthy framework for the future of health, stating, “Generative AI offers tremendous possibilities for improving health experiences, access, and even growing the bottom line. Organizations should prioritize governance and build a trustworthy framework that can not only be maintained but sustained to truly deliver on the future of health.”
Generative AI’s envisioned role in healthcare access and affordability resonates strongly with patients, underlining a shift toward enhanced digital health engagement. Patient optimism, although substantial, awaits full AI integration. The reliance of uninsured individuals on AI for healthcare hints at its potential in cost-saving measures. Nonetheless, trust barriers need addressing, especially concerning AI’s clinical involvement. Patient enthusiasm for AI’s role in understanding health information and communication aligns with hesitations regarding its direct use in clinical decisions. Emphasizing transparency and governance in AI applications emerges as pivotal for realizing its transformative power in shaping future healthcare interactions and experiences.