Philips report shows artificial intelligence is helping US healthcare professionals save time, manage workloads and improve clinical efficiency
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 18 August 2026 – Artificial intelligence is moving beyond pilot projects and becoming a more practical part of everyday healthcare across the United States, according to Philips’ 2026 Future Health Index US report.
The report, titled AI in Practice: Shaping the Future of Healthcare Now, examines how healthcare professionals are using AI-enabled tools in clinical settings. It suggests that artificial intelligence is increasingly helping clinicians manage workloads, save time, and support patient care as healthcare organizations face rising demand and workforce challenges.
One of the biggest benefits identified in the report is increased clinical capacity. Around 36 percent of healthcare professionals surveyed said AI has helped them see more patients. The median increase was five additional patients per week. While this may appear small, the impact could become significant across large healthcare systems where clinicians manage hundreds or thousands of patients.
Time savings are another important advantage. Nearly half of the professionals surveyed said AI helps them save at least 132 hours each year. This equals more than three working weeks. The saved time can potentially be used for direct patient care, reviewing complex cases, completing important clinical tasks, or reducing administrative pressure.
AI is also showing potential in supporting patient safety. More than one quarter of respondents said AI helped them identify or prevent a potential medical error at least three times during the previous three months. AI tools can process large amounts of information and help highlight patterns or details that may require closer attention. However, the technology is designed to support healthcare professionals rather than replace their medical expertise and judgment.
The report also found that AI may contribute to better working conditions. Healthcare professionals reported improvements in work-life balance, lower work-related stress, and reduced overtime. These benefits could be particularly important as hospitals and healthcare providers continue to deal with staff shortages and concerns about clinician burnout.
The use of AI is growing quickly. About 74 percent of clinicians surveyed said their use of AI-enabled tools provided by their organizations had increased during the past year. A similar percentage said these tools were helping them save time. The findings indicate that AI is becoming more integrated into daily clinical operations instead of remaining limited to research projects or technology trials.
Healthcare professionals are using AI across several areas, including diagnostic support, medical imaging, image analysis, and clinical decision-making. The technology can help process information faster and support more efficient workflows. Still, the report makes it clear that human involvement remains essential. More than 90 percent of healthcare professionals said humans should continue to play an important role as AI becomes more advanced.
Training remains a major area that needs attention. Nearly eight in 10 healthcare professionals said AI training within their organizations was limited or inconsistent. This means healthcare providers must focus not only on investing in new technology but also on ensuring employees understand how to use it safely and effectively.
The report highlights an important shift in healthcare technology. The discussion is no longer limited to what AI might achieve in the future. Instead, the focus is increasingly on how AI is already being used to solve real challenges inside hospitals and healthcare organizations.
As AI adoption continues to grow, its success will depend on responsible implementation, proper training, and strong collaboration between technology and healthcare professionals. The Philips report shows that when used effectively, AI can help create more efficient clinical workflows while allowing clinicians to spend greater attention on what matters most: patient care.
