Empowering Medium-Sized Hospitals Through Tech, AI

Medium-sized hospitals in Mexico must grapple with limited resources, growing chronic disease burdens, and uneven access to quality care. While AI could help to address these problems, its success depends on structured data, clear processes, and a focus on patient outcomes, warn industry leaders. 

“AI is a term that is everywhere right now, and it will change the healthcare system,” says Marcelo Cruz, Co-CEO, Clinicasdelhombre.com. “But we must ground it in practical applications that expand access and reduce costs.”

Regional pressures, including the expected doubling of the global population aged 60 and above by 2050, rising chronic disease prevalence, and projected healthcare worker shortages, are creating an urgent need for scalable and sustainable solutions that improve patient outcomes and operational performance. Furthermore, Mexico has only 2.4 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants — below the OECD average of 3.5 — and over half of the population lacks consistent access to medical services. 

Technology can help. AI-enabled analytics can help to address these gaps by optimizing resource allocation and supporting preventive care initiatives, while EHRs facilitate real-time clinical decision-making and population-level health management. Digital tools, when integrated with value-based care models, provide actionable insights for hospitals to shift from service-volume-driven approaches to patient-outcome-focused strategies.

While AI adoption is growing, many AI projects fail without proper foundations. “There is a big myth around AI. Globally, 70% of projects have failed. To make it work, hospitals must first have structured data, defined processes, and an improved patient journey. Only then can AI be implemented,” says Gustavo García, Chairman, Skye Group. He also explains that investment in AI is not a one-time expense but an ongoing effort.

The challenge in incorporating these technologies lies in agility and well-distributed funding, says Omar Silerio, Director General, Hospitales Puerta de Hierro. It is "fundamental to have a Capex for medical equipment and for technology; it is fundamental to have them well allocated," says Silerio. He also urges hospitals to move beyond transactional relationships with patients to a commitment that provides value to all parties.

“We must be clear about the pillars: healthcare staff, patients, and then technology. Each is independent, but together they drive efficiency, reduce time, and lower costs,” says Elisa Hierro, Medical Director, MeetingDoctors. Hierro explains that technology can help to center care around patients, enabling easier access to information and preventive services. “For physicians, AI is useful to make processes more efficient, as long as it is a complement and not a substitute,” she adds.

Despite the potential benefits, medium-sized hospitals encounter multiple barriers to implementing digital solutions. Budgetary constraints, limited infrastructure, workforce shortages, and regulatory ambiguities, such as the partial recognition of digital prescriptions, pose significant challenges. According to García, the industry needs to look toward Mexican companies before reaching for expensive international solutions. 

“Many Mexican healthtech companies have both the technology and the information. They must experiment with AI to see where it fits each clinic or hospital’s needs. Believe me, in Mexico, we will develop health technologies that can compete globally,” says García.

Cultural expectations among physicians and patients, along with skepticism toward digital tools, further complicate adoption. Successful implementation requires multi-stakeholder collaboration involving technology providers, government agencies, and academic institutions. Strategies to overcome these challenges include incremental digital integration, staff training, patient education programs, and robust regulatory frameworks to provide clarity on telemedicine and digital health compliance.

“To continue to innovate, we must change our mindset to focus on the objective of giving better prognoses to patients. That is the benefit, and budgets must be adjusted to implement technology accordingly,” says Silerio. 

Hierro adds that strategy and education are essential for scaling. “You must have a clear strategy, implement only what is necessary, and complement it with training for all staff. It depends on the niche, but it is also about losing the fear of trying something new.”