Healthcare systems remain under pressure from enduring workforce shortages, rising operational costs and post-pandemic disruptions. In this environment, generative AI (GenAI) is emerging as a promising tool to streamline operations, reduce clinician burnout and support workforce development. Yet while enthusiasm is high, the gap between intent and readiness remains a significant challenge. As the 2025 Future Ready Healthcare Survey shows, organisations must balance current demands with strategic implementation to realise GenAI’s full value.
Addressing Workforce Strain and Staffing Costs
One of the most immediate concerns in healthcare is the escalating cost of maintaining adequate staffing. With 1.6 million nurses expected to leave the workforce by 2029, institutions are increasingly focused on using GenAI to stabilise staffing. Survey responses indicate that a majority of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses and pharmacists, see GenAI as a viable support for innovation and efficiency. Respondents anticipate that GenAI could alleviate repetitive administrative burdens such as email management, data organisation and scheduling, allowing clinical staff to focus on patient care.
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While GenAI is not expected to replace core clinical roles, it may help reduce reliance on certain administrative and middle-management functions. Respondents from allied health and pharmacy sectors, in particular, viewed this positively. Furthermore, professionals also saw an opportunity for GenAI to support academic and professional development by collaborating with educational institutions to address bottlenecks in nursing and pharmacy training. Nevertheless, financial constraints remain a barrier, and a full overhaul of digital infrastructure may not be feasible for all. Strategic deployment will be necessary to avoid fragmented, non-integrated solutions.
Closing the Readiness Gap
Despite clear priorities—such as reducing burnout and optimising workflows—healthcare organisations acknowledge a readiness shortfall. Many say they are unprepared to deploy GenAI solutions that align with these goals. For example, while 80% cite workflow optimisation as a priority, only 63% feel equipped to implement GenAI to support this. Similarly, although the vast majority of nurses recognise the urgency of improving recruitment and retention, barely half are confident in their institution’s ability to use GenAI to support these aims.
This disconnect suggests a risk of short-termism, where organisations focus on incremental fixes rather than investing in long-term transformation. Encouragingly, the survey identifies nursing and pharmacy teams as more open to GenAI implementation, suggesting these departments may be ideal starting points. By engaging these areas first, leaders can build momentum while avoiding superficial solutions that fail to deliver sustainable change. However, successful implementation also hinges on broader workflow redesign, not merely replacing old systems with new tools.
Developing a Structured and Inclusive Approach
To unlock the full potential of GenAI, organisations must move beyond piecemeal adoption. They need structured governance, well-communicated policies and inclusive training. At present, only 18% of survey respondents report the existence of formal policies for GenAI use, and just one in five say staff training is mandatory. Awareness is particularly low around integration guidelines, ethical standards and delineation of responsibilities between clinicians and GenAI tools. This limited preparation may heighten concerns about overreliance on technology, erosion of clinical judgement and transparency in decision-making.
Clear onboarding processes and cross-functional leadership are critical. More than half of active users believe that structured training enables faster contribution, and nurses particularly value robust onboarding support. As organisations scale up their use of GenAI, regular feedback from clinical users and adaptive policy updates will be key. Given the fast pace of innovation, flexible and transparent governance is essential to maintain trust and effectiveness.
Generative AI offers healthcare organisations the chance to address today’s most pressing challenges while laying the groundwork for future transformation. From optimising administrative workflows to supporting clinical development and improving patient care, the opportunities are substantial. Yet the road ahead requires deliberate planning, strategic deployment and inclusive leadership. By building robust policies, involving frontline professionals and aligning technology with real-world workflows, organisations can bridge the gap between promise and preparedness—ensuring that GenAI becomes not just a temporary fix, but a long-term enabler of sustainable, high-quality care.
Source: Wolters Kluwer
Image Credit: iStock
