Artificial Intelligence is actively shaping the future of healthcare, and the speed of innovation is accelerating every day. Tech-focused leaders in healthcare and beyond know that the path to truly impactful AI adoption is paved with both incredible potential and significant challenges. At Reuters Events Digital Health 2025 in Nashville, industry leaders gathered to have an “honest conversation” about what’s working and what’s not, and Suki was proud to be at the center of this critical dialogue.
The Promise and Reality of AI in Healthcare
Suki’s mission is to lift the administrative burden from clinicians by reimagining the healthcare technology stack, making it invisible and assistive. This allows clinicians to focus on what truly matters – taking care of patients. Our mission aligns with the themes explored in the keynote panel, “AI Adoption: An Honest Conversation about What’s Working and What’s Not,” moderated by Suki’s Founder and CEO, Punit Soni.
The panel brought together a distinguished group of healthcare technology pioneers: Rohit Chandra, Chief Digital Officer at Cleveland Clinic; Andy Chu, SVP Product Technology and Incubation at Providence; Dr. Marjorie Bessel, Chief Clinical Officer at Banner Health; and Briana Rygg, AVP Information Solutions & Services, Chief Applications Officer at RUSH. Their collective insights offered a candid perspective on the real-world application of AI in complex health systems.
The Workflow Integration Imperative
One of the key takeaways underscored in the discussion was the importance of workflow integration. Moving AI from pilot programs to widespread, impactful adoption requires a deep understanding of how clinicians actually work. As Punit Soni emphasized, “my perspective has been that the workflow is actually the biggest thing to look at… The workflows are actually a big differentiator that you have to think through.” He highlighted how different settings, like inpatient versus ambulatory, demand distinct AI approaches tailored to specific operational realities.
Building and Maintaining Trust in AI Tools
The conversation also touched on the importance of trust. Busy healthcare providers need tools that perform reliably. The panelists shared experiences with early iterations of healthcare AI tools that faced skepticism because they didn’t consistently deliver on their promises. Soni shared a key insight from Suki’s journey: “people would pay for it. It had to just work. That was the more pertinent insight there.” Building trust is essential, as Chu pointed out, “…if you sort of lose trust the first time go around, it’s extremely hard to come back and get people to retry it again.” This highlights the high bar vendors must meet to ensure their solutions are not just innovative, but also functionally robust from day one.
Clinician Demand Driving Adoption
When AI works reliably, and addresses a genuine need, the adoption curve can shift dramatically. Chandra shared a compelling example from Cleveland Clinic regarding scribe capabilities: “The unique thing about the scribe capabilities has been there’s a pull, there’s a demand from clinicians… it has brought the joy back to clinicians.” This “pull” from the user base, driven by the clear benefit of reducing documentation burden, contrasts with the challenges of pushing technology adoption that doesn’t have such immediate, palpable value.
Defining Problems and Measuring Success
Measuring success goes beyond simply deploying technology. It requires a clear definition of the problem and tangible metrics. Rygg stressed this point, stating, “…the most important thing is to get to the problem and understand what is the problem we’re trying to solve… and then find logical KPIs… I think where we’re getting into trouble and where we’re not seeing the ROI is we’re not defining the problem in a way that makes sense.” This disciplined approach ensures that AI investments are tied to meaningful outcomes.
AI’s Broader Impact on Recruitment and Retention
The ROI of AI in healthcare is multifaceted. Beyond direct cost savings, it significantly impacts the ability to recruit and retain talent by creating a more favorable work environment. Dr. Bessel articulated this clearly: “…your ability to recruit into an environment where workflow is optimized is an important piece of attracting talent. The second piece is how you retain your talent… we’re incredibly committed to the well being of our clinicians and reducing burnout… All of that then should ultimately… translate to your ability to create access for the patients that you serve.” Reducing burnout and improving clinician well-being are critical drivers of organizational success and patient access.
Navigating change management to ensure successful, scaled adoption requires a strong partnership between technology providers and health systems. As Soni explains, “ROI is also correlated to adoption at the end of the day… change management, adoption, understanding which areas matter, etc. Is a collaborative effort between the health system and the company.”
Architecting the Future of Healthcare
The panel’s insightful conversation at Reuters Digital Health 2025 reinforced that while the challenges in AI adoption are real—from technical integration and workflow disruption to ethical considerations, the potential for transformation is immense. By focusing on workflow, building trust, clearly defining problems, and collaborating closely with health systems, companies like Suki are not just developing AI tools; they are helping to architect a future where technology seamlessly supports clinicians, reduces burden, and ultimately enhances patient care.
Suki is proud to be leading the charge in this evolution, grounded in the reality of clinical practice and committed to driving meaningful change in healthcare. The insights from this panel will undoubtedly inform our continued work as we strive to make healthcare technology truly assistive and invisible.
