How AI is changing work
Healthcare
Less typing, more attention to the patient.
In healthcare, AI is mainly used for administration: conversations are transcribed, records summarised and replies to patient questions prepared. In radiology and elderly care, AI looks at images and camera feeds and gives earlier warnings. The care professional checks and decides.
What changes
- Record keeping: AI listens in the consulting room and drafts a report for the patient record.
- Patient questions: AI drafts a reply that a doctor or nurse reviews.
- Reading images: AI points out possible fractures or abnormalities, the radiologist finalises the report.
- Night care: cameras with AI report a fall, so not every room has to be checked.
Where people make the difference
- The conversation with the patient and deciding on treatment together.
- Checking and signing off: the care professional remains responsible for every report and reply.
- Judging what someone needs, even when it is not in the data.
How AI is already used
Speech recognition at the outpatient clinic
HagaZiekenhuis uses AI that turns the conversation between doctor and patient into a draft report. The doctor checks and corrects it before it goes into the record. Doctors notice they can pay more attention to the patient, but there is no time saving yet.
ICT&healthHospitals testing together
Seven leading teaching hospitals are jointly testing AI transcription in the consulting room; six are live. For one type of conversation, nurses saved on average just over six minutes per report, including corrections.
ICT&healthReporting without typing
At Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis, AI turns the consultation, with the patient's consent, into a report following a fixed template. This lets a nurse specialist focus fully on the conversation.
NVZDraft replies to patient questions
UMCG has AI in the patient record suggest a reply to written questions from patients. A doctor or nurse checks every reply before it is sent.
UMCGFractures assessed faster
Reinier de Graaf uses AI that checks X-rays for fractures within a minute, so the patient can move on sooner. A radiologist reviews the images within 24 hours for the final report.
Reinier de GraafShared AI for radiology
Five hospitals tested a national infrastructure for using radiology AI, for example for lung nodules, fractures and strokes. The project runs through the Radiological Society of the Netherlands (NVvR).
NVvRFall detection at night
Joris Zorg uses camera software that recognises a fall and alerts care staff immediately. At night, staff less often have to enter a room unnecessarily.
ActiZDictating in elderly care
Research by Vilans: with speech-based reporting, a worker in elderly care can save up to a quarter of an hour a day. Job satisfaction rose from 5.8 to 7.4 out of 10.
ICT&health
Where the sector is heading
The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) is starting a programme to put AI into practice in healthcare, beginning with reducing the administrative burden. The goal from the AZWA healthcare agreement: by 2030, administration takes up no more than 20% of working time (October 2025).
Dutch Ministry of Health (VWS)Speech AI in the consulting room is moving from trial to practice: in the mProve project, six of the seven hospitals are live (2026).
ICT&healthA Dutch guideline for generative AI in healthcare is on its way, drawn up by AIC4NL and UMC Utrecht on behalf of the Ministry of VWS.
Data voor gezondheid
What a maker can do for you here
- “Build an assistant that converts consultation notes into our reporting template.”
- “Make explainer videos for patients in plain language, in several languages.”
- “Automate our staff rostering based on care demand and availability.”
- “Set up a safe AI environment in which our staff can search protocols.”
Researched on 5 October 2026. Know a good example from the Netherlands? Let us know.