Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
NOVA National School of Public Health, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Oct 25;24(1):1282. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11602-y.
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in hospital management holds potential for enhancing decision-making processes. This study investigates the current state of decision-making in hospital management, explores the potential benefits of AI integration, and examines hospital managers' perceptions of AI as a decision-support tool.
A descriptive and exploratory study was conducted using a qualitative approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 hospital managers from various departments and institutions. The interviews were transcribed, anonymized, and analyzed using thematic coding to identify key themes and patterns in the responses.
Hospital managers highlighted the current inefficiencies in decision-making processes, often characterized by poor communication, isolated decision-making, and limited data access. The use of traditional tools like spreadsheet applications and business intelligence systems remains prevalent, but there is a clear need for more advanced, integrated solutions. Managers expressed both optimism and skepticism about AI, acknowledging its potential to improve efficiency and decision-making while raising concerns about data privacy, ethical issues, and the loss of human empathy. The study identified key challenges, including the variability in technical skills, data fragmentation, and resistance to change. Managers emphasized the importance of robust data infrastructure and adequate training to ensure successful AI integration.
The study reveals a complex landscape where the potential benefits of AI in hospital management are balanced with significant challenges and concerns. Effective integration of AI requires addressing technical, ethical, and cultural issues, with a focus on maintaining human elements in decision-making. AI is seen as a powerful tool to support, not replace, human judgment in hospital management, promising improvements in efficiency, data accessibility, and analytical capacity. Preparing healthcare institutions with the necessary infrastructure and providing specialized training for managers are crucial for maximizing the benefits of AI while mitigating associated risks.
人工智能（AI）工具在医院管理中的应用具有增强决策过程的潜力。本研究调查了医院管理中的决策现状，探讨了 AI 集成的潜在好处，并考察了医院管理者对 AI 作为决策支持工具的看法。
采用描述性和探索性研究方法，采用定性方法。通过对来自不同部门和机构的 15 名医院管理者进行半结构化访谈收集数据。访谈记录被转录、匿名化，并使用主题编码进行分析，以识别响应中的关键主题和模式。
医院管理者强调决策过程当前存在效率低下的问题，通常表现为沟通不畅、孤立决策和数据获取有限。传统工具（如电子表格应用程序和商业智能系统）的使用仍然很普遍，但显然需要更先进、集成的解决方案。管理者对 AI 既表示乐观又表示怀疑，承认其提高效率和决策的潜力，同时对数据隐私、道德问题和人类同理心的丧失表示担忧。研究确定了关键挑战，包括技术技能的可变性、数据碎片化和对变革的抵制。管理者强调了强大的数据基础设施和充足培训的重要性，以确保 AI 成功集成。
该研究揭示了一个复杂的局面，其中 AI 在医院管理中的潜在好处与重大挑战和问题相平衡。要有效地整合 AI，需要解决技术、道德和文化问题，注重在决策中保持人类因素。AI 被视为支持而不是取代医院管理中人类判断的强大工具，有望提高效率、数据可访问性和分析能力。为了最大限度地发挥 AI 的优势，同时减轻相关风险，为医疗机构配备必要的基础设施并为管理者提供专业培训至关重要。
