From Automation to Autonomy: Agentic AI Is Healthcare’s Next Frontier



In this episode, Shekar Ramanathan, Executive Director of Digital Transformation at Atlantic Health System shares how the organization is evolving from traditional automation to a future shaped by agentic AI. He shares Atlantic Health’s journey from pilot projects to scalable AI implementations, highlighting real-world use cases such as ambient scribing, intelligent message routing, and virtual medical assistants for patient engagement.

Shekar outlines how Atlantic leverages generative AI to tackle both clinical and operational challenges, guided by a strategy that aligns AI initiatives with organizational goals. He emphasizes working backwards from the outcomes, integrating AI into specific workflows, and the need for strong governance frameworks. He also shares insights on Atlantic’s AI maturity model, challenges in scaling, cost containment, prompt engineering, and the critical role of education and cultural change.

Looking ahead, Shekar sees agentic AI as a transformative force—one that reduces administrative burden and unlocks new levels of autonomy in care delivery. He also reflects on the rising importance of Chief AI Officers in driving responsible and effective AI strategy across health systems. Take a listen.