By 2026, artificial intelligence will shift from a supportive tool to an active participant in healthcare delivery. Agentic AI systems, capable of reasoning and acting autonomously within defined policies, will move beyond merely informing decisions to directly managing administrative tasks. These systems will prepare patient charts, automate prior authorisations, and initiate post-appointment follow-ups, significantly reducing the administrative load on clinicians.
This evolution of AI addresses a critical industry strain: pervasive burnout among healthcare providers. With administrative burdens and regulatory complexity mounting, organisations cannot simply hire more staff to cope. Scalable solutions require reducing the workload itself. Automation integrated seamlessly into existing workflows, rather than demanding additional steps, will be key to easing cognitive load and stabilising teams facing retention challenges.
The effectiveness of advanced AI hinges on interoperability, the foundation for intelligent care. Growing adoption of FHIR and expansion of TEFCA participation are fostering greater data liquidity. This infrastructure allows AI to operate efficiently across different systems and care settings. Without this data connectivity, AI's potential will remain limited by siloed information.
Automation is rapidly becoming a strategic imperative, not just a peripheral initiative. It underpins clinical, operational, and patient-facing workflows aimed at boosting productivity, minimising revenue loss, and improving patient engagement. Successfully implementing these technologies requires thoughtful integration that complements, rather than disrupts, current processes, leading to measurable improvements in work performed by software on behalf of staff.
Innovation in healthcare technology must now prioritise intuitive design and seamless adoption. Future solutions will need to operate in the background, adapt to user preferences, and surface information precisely when needed, without demanding constant attention. Technologies that actively reduce work, rather than adding to it, will achieve widespread use and become indispensable.
