While 60% of organizations claim to be pursuing automation, the reality on the ground suggests a significant disconnect. Roughly 40% to 46% of processes—including credentialing, contract management, and workforce scheduling—are still handled manually. For managers and directors, the toll is even steeper, consuming up to 106 minutes of their daily schedule. Venkat Kavarthapu, CEO of symplr, notes that layering AI over fragmented workflows fails to address the root cause, arguing that technology must instead focus on removing systemic friction.

The survey highlights a widening gap between leadership and staff regarding organizational priorities. While executives and IT heads identify financial pressure as the primary threat to operations, 46% of clinicians cite burnout as their top concern. This misalignment extends to governance: only 26% of respondents work under an actively enforced AI policy, and over half of clinicians are unaware if such guidelines exist at their facilities. Furthermore, 21% of organizations have deployed AI tools without establishing any metrics to measure their effectiveness, prioritizing rapid implementation over staff development and change management.