Artificial intelligence is reshaping private healthcare practices by reducing workloads and streamlining workflows, yet concerns remain about transparency and patient trust. A recent Tebra survey of 203 healthcare professionals and 801 American patients highlights both the benefits and the challenges of AI integration.

Survey findings on AI adoption

• 86% of healthcare employees use AI-powered tools, with nurse practitioners leading at 96%.
• 26% of professionals say AI allows more time with patients.
• 29% feel pressured to adopt AI before being fully ready.
• 11% of patients would trust AI for diagnosis if highly accurate, while 66% prefer it as an assistive tool.
• 60% of patients want to be informed each time AI is used in their care.

AI tools are easing workloads across private practices. Fifty-seven percent of employees report lighter administrative duties, and 59% say clinical documentation requires less effort. More than half (53%) note improvements through AI-optimised electronic health records. Physicians in particular benefit, with 80% reporting reduced workloads. Metrics such as documentation quality, time saved per patient, and patient satisfaction are increasingly used to measure AI’s impact.

Barriers to implementation

Although adoption is widespread, resistance persists. Nearly one-third of workers feel pressured to use AI prematurely, and a quarter admit they have avoided or worked around such tools. Accuracy concerns remain the top issue, with 44% worried about errors. Legal risks also weigh heavily, with 63% concerned about liability, though 27% believe AI could reduce risk by improving accuracy. Peer and patient acceptance is another challenge: 56% say recommendations are second-guessed, and 43% report colleagues dismissing AI entirely. Tebra notes that early staff involvement, thorough training, and open feedback channels are essential for overcoming resistance.

Patient views on AI

Patients are often unaware of AI’s role in their care. While 36% believe AI has been used, only 6% have been directly told by providers. Most assume its presence from context or personal research. Approval is highest for administrative tasks such as scheduling, supported by 79% of patients. Still, 29% acknowledge efficiency while preferring human decision-making.

Transparency remains critical. Sixty percent of patients want disclosure each time AI is involved, but 72% say their doctors never mention it. This lack of communication contributes to unease: 26% believe AI weakens provider relationships, 36% worry about bias linked to age, race, or income, and just 11% would trust AI for diagnosis alone. Two-thirds prefer AI as a supportive tool rather than a decision-maker.

Balancing innovation and trust

Clear communication about AI’s assistive role may help ease patient concerns, with 58% saying its impact depends on how it is implemented. Automated tools such as messaging and scheduling can support transparency, and 7% of patients already feel their provider connection has improved through AI-enabled efficiency.

Dr Soma Mandal, an internal medicine specialist, remarked: “Despite the hype around AI in healthcare, this new data reveals a clear disconnect between innovation and implementation in independent practices.”

The findings suggest that success depends on careful integration, staff training, and open dialogue with patients. Addressing trust and transparency can ensure AI becomes a partner in delivering efficient, patient-centred care rather than a source of unease.