Health systems are reporting an average return of 3.2 times their investments in AI, with some of the strongest returns coming from less widely adopted applications, according to a new Vizient survey.
The survey, released Nov. 12, included 416 senior healthcare leaders representing 385 U.S. health systems. Respondents reported returns of at least twice their investment for nearly two-thirds of AI deployments, with a median return of 2.5 times the investment.
The findings suggest that health systems are seeing returns beyond clinical applications, particularly in operational areas such as pharmacy, supply chain and utilization management.
Here are five findings from the survey:
- Operational applications are delivering some of the strongest returns. Pharmacy, supply chain and utilization management each reported a median return of three times the investment, despite adoption rates of 36%, 48% and 48%, respectively. More widely adopted applications in clinical care, care management and patient access generated returns closer to two times the investment.
- AI is reshaping jobs more often than eliminating them. Among organizations reporting the highest returns, 59% redesigned employee roles, 56% redeployed staff to higher-value work and 53% reduced overtime. Meanwhile, 21% reduced headcount through attrition and 17% reported AI-related layoffs.
- Higher-return organizations are actively managing their AI portfolios. Organizations generating stronger returns are expanding to a median of eight AI tools and retiring two annually, compared with five and one among lower-return organizations.
- Mature AI programs are associated with stronger returns. Among organizations achieving the highest returns, 42% reported operating mature, scaled AI portfolios, compared with 20% of lower-return organizations.
- Higher-return organizations are deploying AI more broadly. These organizations reported using AI across an average of 8.6 domains, compared with 7.5 domains among lower-return organizations.
Vizient conducted the survey in April and May among senior leaders at U.S. acute care hospitals and health systems involved in AI initiatives.
The company noted that return on investment figures were self-reported estimates and were not independently verified. The calculations included direct financial benefits, such as cost savings and increased revenue, as well as indirect benefits, including time savings, cost avoidance, increased throughput and improved quality.
