Royal Philips shared findings from its Future Health Index cardiology snapshot that show challenges in delivering care and the growing role of AI in overcoming those challenges — as well as less trust in AI among patients.
According to the Future Health Index 2025: Cardiology Snapshot, a significant challenge for cardiac patients was the wait time they experienced for specialist visits, with nine of 10 reporting an average wait time of nearly 12 weeks. Furthermore, one in three patients reported that their condition worsened during the wait, resulting in hospitalization.
Cardiac healthcare professionals also faced challenges that affected patient care, with 80% reporting a loss of clinical time due to incomplete or inaccessible patient data. Almost half said that they lose more than 45 minutes of time that could be spent with patients per shift as a result.
According to Philips, more than 80% of the providers believe that AI can assist with this inefficiency by automating repetitive tasks, extending clinical capacity, and supporting earlier diagnoses, with 79% saying AI could ultimately help reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.
However, cardiac patients were more skeptical, with only 56% expressing optimism that AI could improve healthcare. The main concern voiced was that healthcare could become less personal with its use; the patients said they would feel more comfortable with AI if their providers clearly explained its use and benefits. For professionals, that transparency was also highlighted: More than one in three called for greater clarity around legal liability, as well as assurance that AI systems would be monitored and transparent.
The Future Health Index 2025: Cardiology Snapshot offers five actions for the successful use of AI in cardiac care: streamlining data access, which frees up time and resources; automating routine tasks to enable providers to spend more time on patient care; using predictive analytics for earlier interventions and improved outcomes; involving both cardiac professionals and patients in the deployment of AI systems; and ensuring transparency and consistent oversight of AI to promote confidence and improved care.
Visit the Philips Future Health Index 2025 site for the full report.