Leaders from companies such as Amazon, Ford and JPMorganChase have predicted that AI will replace a slew of jobs in the future. But will the same be true in healthcare? Health system leaders told Becker’s that AI has the potential to supplant administrative roles but will only enhance the work that clinicians do. “AI is […] The post Will AI replace healthcare jobs? appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
Leaders from companies such as Amazon, Ford and JPMorganChase have predicted that AI will replace a slew of jobs in the future. But will the same be true in healthcare?
Health system leaders told Becker’s that AI has the potential to supplant administrative roles but will only enhance the work that clinicians do.
“AI is not just coming for healthcare — it’s already here,” said Sunil Dadlani, executive vice president and chief information, digital and cybersecurity officer of Morristown, N.J.-based Atlantic Health System. “From clinical decision support to revenue cycle automation, AI is already augmenting workflows, accelerating diagnosis, and streamlining administrative tasks. Roles in medical coding, documentation, scheduling, and even elements of diagnostics are increasingly supported — or replaced — by intelligent systems.”
While jobs won’t disappear overnight, the “value equation” in healthcare is shifting, he said.
“Human skill sets must move up the value chain,” he said. “Tasks that are repetitive, rules-based, or data-heavy are the most vulnerable. Ignoring AI is no longer a neutral stance. It is a fast track to obsolescence.”
Terri Couts, RN, executive vice president and chief digital officer of Sayre, Pa.-based Guthrie, said she doesn’t think AI is replacing healthcare jobs since so many roles remain unfilled, though the technology is automating back-office tasks like prior authorizations and claims processing
“I believe strongly in the responsible use of AI to improve care delivery, reduce clinician burnout, and extend access. This is especially true in rural and underserved areas,” she said. “We’re seeing AI augment human capabilities, not eliminate them. The goal isn’t to replace people. It is to reimagine how we work so that clinicians, staff and patients all benefit.”
Healthcare AI’s current use cases, such as radiology or pathology image interpretation or clinical documentation through ambient listening, still require human oversight, she noted.
“There is no question that AI is a powerful, transformative technology that will redefine how we work and shape the future across every industry,” said Kristin Myers, executive vice president and chief digital officer of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health. “While it may fully replace certain administrative roles and functions, I believe its greater impact will be in augmenting our work, not replacing it.”
She said AI will become a daily part of healthcare workers’ duties, making them “more efficient, productive and informed,” as long as the technology is implemented ethically and responsibly.
“At some point, AI will impact all jobs in some way across every industry,” said Kathy Azeez-Narain, chief digital and customer innovation officer of Hoag. “That said, predicting exactly when or if AI will replace healthcare jobs is difficult given how fast the field is moving, but right now AI is acting more as a partner than a replacement. We’re already seeing meaningful impact in administrative and back-office functions — automating billing, call centers, and other repetitive workflows.”
Healthcare is inherently a “human business,” she said, with empathy and human connection serving as core functions.
“For most of the frontline workforce, AI is currently less about replacement and more about augmentation — giving clinicians deeper insights, reducing administrative burden — and helping them focus on what matters most: care, connection, and complex decision-making,” she said.
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