How Loma Linda leverages AI to support clinicians, reduce burnout – Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News

As AI increasingly integrates into healthcare, Angela Lalas, executive vice president of finance and CFO at Loma Linda (Calif.) University Health, is focused on the impact it will have on workforce, healthcare finance and operations.

“[Generative] and agentic AI is transforming the revenue cycle, the operational workflows and even how the clinicians provide care, how AI is enabling teams to do more with less, improve efficiency, allowing clinicians and staff to work at the top of their licenses while optimizing service, revenue and cost,” Ms. Lalas said during a Becker’s CFO+Revenue Cycle Podcast episode. 

Ms. Lalas, who has been with Loma Linda for almost 20 years, stressed that while AI may replace specific tasks, its true value is in augmentation. She also touched on the importance of oversight and ensuring trust in AI implementation.

“What we would need in the whole AI-driven environment is those staff or positions who will audit or make sure that … the AI is generating the right output in terms of quality, in terms of accuracy …[and in] addressing biases and compliance issues.”

At Loma Linda, Ms. Lalas said the system is reassessing models to improve employee well-being and sustainability. She said these efforts are crucial when aiming to tackle industrywide margin pressure and burnout.

It is also crucial for workforce transformation efforts and AI to align on an organizational level to ensure mission and value is achieved.

“This growth is ultimately in service of those who matter most — the patients who trust us with their care, the physicians and care teams who dedicate their lives to healing and the employees who bring our mission to life every day,” she said.