AI, consumer demand drive global healthcare workforce trends
ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES — Hospitals and health systems worldwide are undergoing a rapid transformation in workforce structure and strategy, according to top executives at the Becker’s CEO+CFO Roundtable.
Persistent labor shortages, financial pressures, and rising patient expectations are pushing health leaders to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation—not just to fill gaps, but to fundamentally reshape care delivery.
Due to the implementation of artificial intelligence and a focus on consumer needs, healthcare teams must adapt their work methods, utilizing fewer staff members, enhancing technology skills, and fostering teamwork across various fields.
Five major workforce shifts driven by AI
Executives at the Becker’s CEO+CFO Roundtable made five predictions on how healthcare workforces operate and do well in spite of continual changes, as reported by Laura Dyrda of Becker’s Hospital Review:
- The workforce will shrink and shift
- AI literacy will be table stakes
- Consumerism will be king
- Higher engagement and satisfaction
- Siloes will become nearly obsolete
Leaner and more strategic workforce
Altru Health System, from Grand Forks, N.D., utilizes AI for recordkeeping and coding support because of staffing shortages.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Derek Goebel placed importance on hiring fewer people who would be most effective, ensuring each new employee was fully evaluated.
“We see more interest in services ‘on demand’ both in our Express clinic model and via virtual visits, resulting in our workforce models adapting to meet that need,” said Goebel.
AI literacy for healthcare workforce
Dyrda writes that beyond efficiency, AI literacy is now critical for all staff. Mayo Clinic has launched upskilling programs in data analytics, machine learning, and AI ethics, integrating data scientists with clinicians.
Mayo Clinic Platform’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Maneesh Goyal noted that bridging tech and clinical expertise allows teams to function at a higher strategic level.
Similarly, Mayo Clinic’s COO Biju Samkutty highlighted AI’s role in enabling more personalized, efficient, and transformative care, shifting roles from manual tasks to tech-driven decision-making.
“We are prioritizing the development of skills in data literacy, digital collaboration, and AI-driven decision support across clinical and operational roles,” Samkutty said.
Consumer demand forces flexible, decentralized care models
As patients increasingly expect on-demand, accessible care, hospitals are pushed to expand virtual visits, weekend services, and community-based clinics.
Duke University Health System Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Craig Albanese cited pilot programs for weekend services and virtual care, enabled by scalable tech and adaptable staffing.
Similarly, Baptist Health in Louisville, Ky., is opening hybrid emergency-urgent care centers and boosting home-based services to meet patients where they are.
Workforce engagement and well-being rise
This shift also demands workforce flexibility. Lisa Goodlett, Duke’s CFO, said reducing administrative tasks through automation allows staff to focus on high-value patient interactions, improving job satisfaction.
Dr. Albanese added that employee well-being programs and flexible scheduling are now central to retaining talent. “The care we provide to our patients is inseparable from the care, respect and inclusion we extend to our team members, and how well we reflect, understand and serve our communities,” he stressed.
Silos disappear, collaboration grows
Technology is enabling the breakdown of traditional departmental silos.
“Gone are the days of fragmented departments and transactional roles,” said David Lubarsky, MD, CEO of Westchester Medical Care Health Network.
“We’re building an ecosystem where nurses, doctors, technologists and administrators don’t just collaborate, they co-create the future of health.”
