Artificial Intelligence in the Health Sector: Key Skills for Future Health Professionals. (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED Technological advancements have significantly reshaped healthcare, introducing digital solutions that enhance diagnostics and patient care. Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out, offering unprecedented capabilities in data analysis, diagnostic support, and personalized medicine. However, effectively integrating AI into healthcare necessitates specialized competencies among professionals, an area still in its infancy in terms of comprehensive literature and formalized training programs. This systematic review aims to consolidate the essential skills and knowledge healthcare professionals need to integrate AI into their clinical practice effectively. Through an extensive search across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, we identified literature focusing on AI fundamentals, data analytics and management, and ethical considerations. Despite the broadening of search criteria to capture the evolving nature of AI in healthcare, the review underscores a significant gap in focused studies on the required competencies. Moreover, the review highlights the critical role of regulatory bodies like the (US Food and Drug Administration) FDA in facilitating the adoption of AI technologies by establishing trust and standardizing algorithms. Key areas were identified for developing competencies among healthcare professionals for the implementation of AI, Ai fundamentals knowledge, data analysis skills, and ethical considerations. In an AI-enhanced healthcare landscape, the ability to humanize patient care through effective communication is paramount. This balance ensures that while AI streamlines tasks and potentially increases patient interaction time, healthcare professionals maintain a focus on compassionate care, thereby leveraging AI to enhance, rather than detract from, the patient experience.