The use of artificial intelligence among clinicians and patients alike continues to grow, with 35% of clinicians using AI multiple times a day at work and 40% of patients using AI at least once a day in their personal lives, a new report from Wolters Kluwer Health reveals.
The 2026 Future Ready Healthcare Survey Report was conducted by independent market research firm Ipsos in mid-March and drew insights from 355 clinicians and 254 patients across the country.
Researchers point to a sharp increase in the daily use of AI among clinicians. Physician utilization tripled from 10% in 2025 to 38% in 2026. Meanwhile, nurse utilization doubled from 16% to 32% year over year.
Patient use of AI is also becoming increasingly prominent in medical appointments, with 42% of patients saying they bring AI-generated information into their appointments “often or very often.” 59% reported that their clinicians welcomed or engaged with this material.
However, the report notes that despite the increasing use of AI, both clinicians and patients have various concerns about its introduction into healthcare.
74% of clinicians report concerns about “skill decline.” The report defines this as an over-reliance on AI tools that reduces their skills and ability to identify inaccuracies or inappropriate recommendations. Similarly, 74% of clinicians report AI hallucinations as a major concern.
Additionally, 75% of patients report that they are concerned about liability if AI causes harm during treatment.
Greg Samios, CEO of Wolters Kluwer Health, said in a statement that the findings highlight the increasing use of AI in the real world for both clinicians and patients, but with “a significant trust gap around growing concerns about AI illusions, bias, and the monetization of personal data.”
“The pressure is now on healthcare leaders to close the trust gap with visible organizational governance and authoritative content that addresses these concerns while continuing to drive innovative new clinical solutions,” Samios said.
Despite concerns, 70% of respondents from both clinician and patient organizations reported that they believe AI can improve patient health literacy and engagement. Additionally, approximately 61% of clinicians believe that AI allows them to spend more time caring for their patients, and 74% of patients report that they believe generative AI can be an efficient way for clinicians to find treatment-relevant information.
“AI is not just something that healthcare organizations are deploying within the walls of their health care systems,” Dr. Peter Bonis, chief medical officer at Wolters Kluwer Health, said in a statement. “This shapes the flow of the patient encounter long before the patient enters the exam room. It has an important impact on the dynamics of clinical decision-making.”
