HCA Healthcare’s strategic approach to scaling artificial intelligence
Abstract
Hospitals and health systems face mounting pressure to improve patient care while managing workforce strain, rising costs and operational complexity. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to address these challenges. Only 13 per cent of healthcare systems have developed a clear organisational strategy for integrating AI into clinical workflows. Although organisations recognise the need to invest, they struggle to determine where to begin amid numerous options and significant capital requirements. HCA Healthcare has adopted a comprehensive AI strategy — supported by a robust governance framework — to help ensure AI technology is used safely and effectively. HCA Healthcare’s AI strategy emphasises co-design with clinicians, rigorous validation of impact, change management and governance to help ensure that adoption is safe, effective and trusted. This paper presents an overview of HCA Healthcare’s AI strategy, along with four early initiatives that illustrate how AI comes to life in clinical, operational and administrative functions in its hospitals. These initiatives, as well as the strategy behind them, demonstrate how AI can enhance patient experience, support caregivers and improve operational performance. For example, at one site, an AI tool used across more than 1,000 nursing departments cut scheduling time from hours to just 2 to 3 hours per cycle, enabling nurse leaders to devote more time to patient-centred care. HCA Healthcare’s AI strategy ensures that investments in AI balance innovation with accountability to enable sustainable and transformational impact that other health systems can consider. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.
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Author's Biography
Michael Schlosser, MD, MBA, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer at HCA Healthcare, reporting directly to the company’s Chief Executive Officer. In this role, he leads enterprise-wide digital transformation and innovation, guiding the design, development, integration, implementation and optimisation of technologies and processes that enhance clinical, administrative and operational performance. His mission is to improve the experience and outcomes for HCA Healthcare’s leaders, colleagues, care teams and patients. Dr Schlosser oversees the implementation and optimisation of electronic health record systems, leads HCA Healthcare’s artificial intelligence and machine learning teams, directs the data office and manages the organisation’s Responsible AI programme. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President for Care Transformation and Innovation, where he launched HCA Healthcare’s initial digital transformation initiatives. Before that, he was Group Chief Medical Officer, National Group, overseeing clinical operations for 100 HCA Healthcare hospitals with a focus on quality, patient outcomes and clinical strategy. He has also held the role of Chief Medical Officer at HealthTrust. A neurosurgeon by training, Dr Schlosser completed his residency and fellowship at Johns Hopkins. He has served as a medical officer with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), holds a degree in chemical engineering from MIT and earned his MBA from Vanderbilt University.
Citation
Schlosser, Michael (2026, June 1). HCA Healthcare’s strategic approach to scaling artificial intelligence. In the Management in Healthcare: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, Volume 10, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/ZRXD5290.
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