What if the biggest improvement to Alberta’s healthcare system isn’t building another hospital?

What if it’s giving the healthcare professionals we already have better tools?

Every Albertan knows someone who has waited too long in an emergency department, waited months to see a specialist, or struggled to find a family doctor. Our healthcare professionals are working harder than ever, but demand continues to grow. Alberta’s population is increasing, we’re living longer, and more people are living with chronic illnesses that require ongoing care. We cannot continue meeting tomorrow’s healthcare needs using yesterday’s methods.

That is why I believe Alberta should continue embracing artificial intelligence.

Some people worry that AI will replace doctors and nurses. I don’t believe that’s the goal, nor should it be. The real strength of AI is that it helps skilled healthcare professionals do their jobs more efficiently. It can analyze enormous amounts of information in seconds, help identify patterns that deserve closer attention, reduce paperwork, and support better clinical decisions. The final responsibility still belongs to the healthcare professional. AI is simply another tool—an incredibly powerful one.

Alberta is already showing leadership. The province has expanded the role of Nurse Practitioners, allowing qualified NPs to diagnose illnesses, order laboratory and imaging tests, prescribe medications, and manage many patients independently. For Albertans who cannot find a family physician, this means faster access to care. Instead of viewing Nurse Practitioners as a substitute for physicians, we should recognize them as an important part of the solution to our healthcare shortage.

Artificial intelligence is also helping behind the scenes. The University of Alberta is currently testing AI medical scribes in emergency departments across the province. With a patient’s consent, the AI listens during the appointment and prepares the clinical documentation for the physician to review and approve. Emergency physicians have said documentation alone can consume hours of every shift. If AI can safely reduce that burden, doctors gain something far more valuable than paperwork—they gain more time to care for patients.

Medical imaging is another area where AI is already proving its value. Radiologists examine thousands of mammograms, CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays every year. Like any human being, fatigue can affect performance after reviewing hundreds of images. AI doesn’t replace the radiologist; it serves as a second set of eyes. It can highlight suspicious findings for closer review, helping detect breast cancer, strokes, lung disease, and other serious conditions earlier. Earlier diagnosis often means earlier treatment, and earlier treatment can save lives.

Imagine what this could mean for rural Alberta. Mobile screening units equipped with modern digital imaging and AI-assisted analysis could bring high-quality diagnostic services closer to smaller communities. Instead of travelling long distances or waiting weeks for results, patients could receive faster assessments and, when necessary, quicker referrals for follow-up care. Technology cannot eliminate every delay, but it can certainly reduce many of them.

Recent news reports have highlighted another challenge facing our healthcare system. Emergency physicians across Canada continue to report high levels of burnout, increasing workloads, and staffing shortages. Some are reducing their hours or considering leaving emergency medicine altogether. Regardless of the exact percentage, every experienced healthcare professional who leaves makes it harder for those who remain. We cannot solve that problem simply by asking people to work longer and harder. We must also give them better tools.

Artificial intelligence is one of those tools. It can help organize patient information, prioritize urgent imaging, assist with documentation, identify abnormal test results, and support healthcare professionals in making informed decisions. It won’t replace compassion, judgment, or experience. Those qualities will always belong to people. But AI can help healthcare professionals spend more of their time caring for patients and less of it completing administrative tasks.

Throughout history, every major technological advance has been met with skepticism. We questioned computers, online banking, GPS navigation, and smartphones. Today, most of us use those technologies every day because they made our lives easier. Healthcare should be no different. New technologies should always be carefully tested, properly regulated, and introduced responsibly. But once they have demonstrated that they improve patient care, we should welcome them—not fear them.

I believe Alberta has an opportunity to become a leader in AI-assisted healthcare. We already have world-class researchers, innovative healthcare professionals, and governments willing to explore new approaches. If artificial intelligence helps detect diseases sooner, shortens waiting times, reduces burnout, supports Nurse Practitioners, and gives physicians more time to spend with patients, then embracing AI is not about replacing people. It is about giving good people the best tools available.

The future of healthcare will not be built by choosing between humans and artificial intelligence. It will be built by combining the strengths of both. If we make that choice wisely, every Albertan will benefit.