Closing the AI divide: Finding a path forward for rural hospitals

  • Mercy Hospital in Ada is a rural hospital that uses AI due to its connection to a larger hospital network. Brian Whitacre of Oklahoma State University said this type of connection is often a major factor in whether rural hospitals adopt AI, along with a rural hospital’s finances. Photo by Mitchell Alcala, OSU Agriculture
    Mercy Hospital in Ada is a rural hospital that uses AI due to its connection to a larger hospital network. Brian Whitacre of Oklahoma State University said this type of connection is often a major factor in whether rural hospitals adopt AI, along with a rural hospital’s finances. Photo by Mitchell Alcala, OSU Agriculture

    STILLWATER, Okla. – AI – no matter what industry one works in, it’s an acronym that’s heard a lot nowadays. The use of artificial intelligence has surged in recent years, increasing from roughly half of organizations using it in 2023 to more than 70% in 2024, according to global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

    In healthcare alone, physician adoption nearly doubled from 38% in 202…