Beyond the hype: How physicians actually use AI in their practices

The promise and challenge of implementing AI in a medical practice.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a priority in medical practices as physicians look for ways to streamline work flows, enhance patient care and reduce administrative burdens.

A January 2025 MGMA Stat poll found that AI tools are the top technology focus for health care organizations this year, with 32% of respondents ranking them as their leading priority — surpassing electronic health record (EHR) usability (30%) and revenue cycle management systems (17%). This marks a dramatic shift from late 2023 when only 13% of organizations prioritized AI.

The increasing focus on AI reflects growing adoption, particularly in documentation automation, workflow optimization and patient interaction. Many practices are implementing AI-powered charting tools, ambient transcription systems and virtual assistants to improve efficiency. However, widespread adoption remains a challenge. Although the survey found that around one-third of U.S. health care organizations have integrated AI into their work flows — primarily for speech recognition and clinical diagnostics — barriers such as high costs, limited training and regulatory uncertainty persist.

Despite these challenges, AI is proving its value. The MGMA Stat poll found that more than 70% of organizations using AI report at least some success, and many see it as a critical long-term strategy.

Although surveys and industry reports highlight AI’s growing role in medical practices, the real impact is best understood through the experiences of the doctors who use these tools every day. To explore how AI is changing clinical work flows, patient interactions and decision-making, Medical Economics spoke with physicians who are integrating AI into their practices. Their experiences reveal the promise and the challenges of adopting this rapidly evolving technology.

Visit the links below for real physicians' experiences with integrating AI into their practices:

• How Denton Shanks, DO, of the University of Kansas Medical System, uses AI

• How Jarrett Dodd, MD, chief medical officer of CVFP Medical Group, uses AI

• How May Lin, DO, a primary care physician with One Medical and assistant dean of Toro University, uses AI

• How Christi Siedlecki, MSN, RN, CEO of Grants Pass Clinic, uses AI

• How Owais Durrani, DO, emergency medicine at UT Health, uses AI

• How Ronald Rodriguez, MD, PhD, professor of medical education and director of UT-San Antonio's dual MD/MS in AI program, uses AI