In healthcare, when systems fail, it’s not just frustrating. It can be dangerous. Whether it’s an EMR, a secure messaging tool, or even an infusion pump, system disruptions can interrupt care, delay treatments, and increase compliance risks. As healthcare operations become more complex, staying one step ahead of these problems becomes even more critical. This is where AIOps comes in.
The Quiet Risk in the Background
While most conversations about healthcare technology focus on enhancing patient care or supporting clinicians, many operational leaders are laser-focused on something more foundational: compliance, governance, and cost containment. It’s not that patient care isn’t the top priority. It’s that we can’t deliver great care without stable, predictable systems behind the scenes.
Unfortunately, many organizations still rely on traditional monitoring tools that only flag issues after they have already occurred. These tools often generate large volumes of disconnected alerts, leaving IT teams overwhelmed and unsure of where to focus their attention. AIOps is designed to change that.
So What Is AIOps, Really?
AIOps (artificial intelligence for IT operations) is more than a buzzword. It’s a shift in how we manage infrastructure. Instead of waiting for something to break, AIOps platforms use historical patterns and real-time data to predict when a system is likely to fail. This gives IT teams the chance to respond before an incident impacts care.
For healthcare, this kind of foresight is powerful. It reduces unplanned downtime, frees up IT resources, and improves compliance performance, all without requiring huge overhauls or budget overextensions.
For example:
- Cisco DNA Assurance monitors networks in real time and provides step-by-step recommendations to resolve problems quickly.
- Dell APEX AIOps offers visibility across IT systems and highlights potential risks before users are affected.
- HPE OpsRamp helps manage infrastructure across multiple locations through one simplified platform.
A prominent healthcare organization leveraged IBM’s AIOps solutions to enhance their IT operations. By implementing IBM’s AI-driven tools, they achieved a 70% faster decision-making process for resource allocation. This improvement led to more efficient management of critical healthcare services, ensuring better patient care and operational efficiency.1 This helped their IT staff prioritize the right issues, improve system uptime, and reduce delays in patient care.
But AIOps isn’t just about enhancement. It’s about replacement too.
Facing the Reality of Automation
I recently heard from a colleague that an IT manager and a systems admin at one of our partner organizations were being replaced by AIOps bots and an outsourced help desk. It was a jarring reminder that we’re not just augmenting human teams anymore. We’re starting to automate away some of the roles we used to rely on.
And while that brings obvious efficiencies, it also brings a sense of unease. What’s the balance between humans and machines? Are we equipping our teams with the skills they need to stay relevant in this new model? These are hard conversations, but we must be willing to have them.
Where Connection Comes In
At Connection, we help healthcare organizations understand what AIOps can do and where to begin. We work with trusted partners to design solutions that fit your environment and goals.
Sometimes that means deploying solutions to automatically detect and resolve wireless network issues. Other times, it involves using dashboards to simplify visibility across multiple locations. Whatever the case, we focus on practical, scalable solutions that help teams work more effectively.
Looking Ahead
The use of AI in healthcare is growing rapidly. The global AI healthcare market grew from 1.1 billion dollars in 2016 to more than 22 billion dollars in 2023.2 Nearly 25% of U.S. hospitals are already using predictive analytics powered by AI to improve operations and care delivery.3
AIOps is part of that trend. It is expanding into areas like cybersecurity, capacity planning, revenue cycle workflows, and clinical data analysis. Organizations that take the time now to explore AIOps and build a strong foundation will be the ones best positioned to thrive in the future.
If you’re not sure where to start, you’re not alone. But staying in place is the one decision that will not help. Engage Connection’s Healthcare Practice to see how we can support smarter, more resilient healthcare operations for your organization.
Sources:
- https://www.ibm.com/aiops
- https://www.dialoghealth.com/post/ai-healthcare-statistics
- https://www.aiprm.com/ai-in-healthcare-statistics/
Jennifer Johnson
Jennifer Johnson, Director Healthcare Strategy and Business Development, joined Connection in 2010 starting in field sales and joined the healthcare practice in 2015. Jennifer has more than 20 years in IT, including prior roles in distribution and manufacturing. Jennifer holds her Certified Digital Health Leader designation from the CHIME organization and is a member of HIMSS, where Connection is a diamond sponsor. Jen was named CRN Women of the Channel in 2023 and 2024 and holds certifications from NVIDIA (AI Advisor- Sales) and Dell Technologies (AI Champion- Partner Sales).
