Transforming Patient Care: The Role of AI and Data Literacy in a New Era

The marketing agency FINN Partners recently published a new eBook titled “Human-First Health Information: How AI, Data, and Innovation Are Rewriting the Future of Care,” which discusses the urgent need for trusted, accessible, and actionable health information, as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more embedded throughout the healthcare ecosystem. 

Following the EHR (Electronic Health Record) era, the eBook's authors argue that the industry now faces a deeper shift: from static data systems to intelligent, adaptive tools that change how patients and clinicians access and interpret information. AI promises to reduce clinician workload, personalize care, and transform overwhelming data into actionable insights, according to the authors. However, they note, it can also increase bias, misinformation, and inequity if not managed responsibly.

“The same critical questions must be asked,” Beth Friedman, senior partner with FINN Partners, cautions: “What promises is AI making for health? What new lessons will we encounter? What is the learning curve for this transformation? Will we finally realize the full potential of health IT to achieve the Quintuple Aim [Enhance care experience, improve population health, reduce costs, ensure workforce wellness, and promote equity]?”

The eBook contributors highlight a new reality: patients are AI-enabled and proactive, often seeking answers before entering the exam room. This demands better health and data literacy — and a move toward learner-centric care, where knowledge is co-created rather than simply delivered.

“Embedding transparency, trust, and equity into every AI-enabled process is how the industry will harness innovation without losing humanity,” Amber Doster, vice president at FINN Partners, writes.