Navigating the barriers and facilitators to implementation of AI in healthcare

Aims There is increasing emphasis on applying AI techniques to enhance healthcare delivery and decision-making. However, despite much interest and early promise, a major challenge is translation into clinical practice. To address the challenges of AI deployment, optimize implementation, and establish strategies for effective utilization of AI technology in healthcare, we aimed to answer the question: what are the key determinants influencing effective deployment of AI technology in healthcare? Methods We followed PRISMA-ScR and the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology guidelines for scoping reviews; the research protocol was published prospectively on Open Science Framework. We searched PubMed, Cochrane, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore for papers published in English from 2000, including systematic/scoping reviews and meta-analyses with full text available. Results The initial search was limited to AI medical imaging technology. It identified 1,511 papers, of which 523 met the eligibility criteria based on title and abstract screening. A total of 488 papers were excluded due to context or irrelevant content, leaving 35 papers for full-text review. No systematic/scoping reviews specifically addressing the deployment of AI medical imaging solutions were identified, prompting the inclusion criteria to be broadened to encompass any study designs related to all relevant technology. Overall, 15 papers were included in the final scoping review. Conclusion The successful deployment of AI in healthcare is challenging, due to barriers which can be ethical, technological, regulatory, financial, or patient- and workforce-related. Facilitators to drive successful implementation include planning, organizational culture, patient involvement, stakeholder engagement, education, and leadership. Leveraging these essential barriers and facilitators provides a foundation for developing implementation strategies that streamline the deployment of AI technology in healthcare. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2025;107-B(7):666–672.