Health systems are seeing millions of dollars in financial gains from AI initiatives that streamline clinical work and boost revenue, according to health system IT leaders.
Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health has reported measurable returns from several AI applications.
CIO Brent Lamm told Becker’s that AI-powered clinical documentation using ambient scribing has saved providers an estimated $6 million by reducing charting time during nights and weekends. AI-driven infusion scheduling has generated about $5 million in additional revenue, while automated prior authorization processes have contributed $3 million to $4 million in savings and revenue. AI-enhanced nursing leadership communications have also improved staff retention, with an estimated value of $5.4 million.
Mr. Lamm said the metrics that resonate most with UNC Health’s board when making the case for AI funding are “patient outcomes, access, provider engagement, cost savings and revenue growth.”
Evansville, Ind.-based Deaconess Health has seen similar results. Chief digital transformation officer Jared Antczak said the system’s AI documentation tool—now used by nearly 500 providers—has reduced appointment times by 10%, enabling clinicians to see more patients and produce more comprehensive clinical notes. AI tools in revenue cycle operations have also improved coding and charge accuracy, supporting financial sustainability.
Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health is also setting a benchmark for large-scale, thoughtful AI adoption. The system has 230 AI applications live across its hospitals, up from about 160 two years ago, CIO Daniel Barchi told Becker’s in a Sept. 2 article.
“We’re probably generating north of $100 million in annual savings using AI and RPA tools in a number of different areas,” Mr. Barchi said. “But before we got to that point, we put governance in place to make sure we were thoughtful about how we were using AI, particularly because patient safety, patient lives and patient data are at stake in all of this.”
Mr. Barchi said the system began with back-office applications such as billing and moved gradually into employee and patient engagement before applying AI to clinical areas.
While some health systems are reporting significant returns, experts caution that measuring AI ROI remains challenging.
A Sept. 16 Wall Street Journal report noted that many AI projects are still in proof-of-concept phases, and organizations should prioritize experimentation and the most promising initiatives over immediate financial gains.
“It’s really important to balance the focus on a few key areas with experimentation and learning, and even taking some risks at times,” said Bryan Goodman, director of AI at Ford, during the WSJ Leadership Institute’s Technology Council Summit.
Both Mr. Antczak and Mr.Lamm emphasized that AI’s less tangible benefits—such as increased staff satisfaction and improved patient experience—remain important, even if harder to quantify.
“One of the greatest potential benefits of AI sometimes overlooked, is its ability to enable people to do what they do best—provide a human touch,” Mr. Antczak said.
As health systems face mounting cost pressures, AI is emerging not just as a tool for efficiency, but as a long-term lever for financial sustainability.
