Artificial intelligence: the future of care passes through new skills

Strengthening the skills of 50,000 operators nationwide by providing them with critical capabilities and operational and digital skills to consciously and responsibly integrate AI into daily clinical practice. This is the aim of the national programme 'The Future of Care' for AI training launched by Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft Italia, developed with Fondazione Mondo Digitale Ets. Implemented under the patronage of Farmindustria and the Conference of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces, the programme supports the modernisation of the National Health Service, investing in people as the true enabling infrastructure for innovation. "Investing in skills," emphasises Jacopo Murzi, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Italia, "means contributing to building a more resilient system, capable of responding to emergencies and future challenges, more inclusive and equitable, guaranteeing access to care for all, and more effective, efficient and sustainable, thanks to a better use of resources.

The training is delivered through a hybrid training model, which combines in-person and online sessions, a dedicated digital platform, video modules, in-depth sessions with experts from Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft Italia, national events and territorial initiatives. "Artificial intelligence has the potential to profoundly transform the healthcare sector. However, in order to fully grasp the opportunities, it is crucial to invest in skills," adds Vincenzo Esposito, CEO of Microsoft Italia.

The programme aims to strengthen three key competences among health professionals: digital literacy, to understand AI and digital health tools; critical capacity in evaluating AI outputs, to ensure informed and always human-led decisions; and operational competence, to integrate AI solutions into real clinical workflows.

"In health care, new technologies and artificial intelligence represent an extraordinary opportunity to improve efficiency, response times and access to care," explains Mirta Michilli, Director General of Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS. "This transformation does not replace professionals, but requires continuous investment in updating their skills.

For his part Luciano Ciocchetti, vice-chairman of the Social Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, recalls that Parliament is working 'to ensure that the transformation underway truly strengthens territorial healthcare, the taking care of chronic conditions, and the support of operators. Helping health professionals acquire new skills means enabling them to offer increasingly qualified services for the well-being of patients. Projects such as 'The Future of Care' respond to this need: they equip the system with the skills needed to integrate AI in care pathways and to make it a tool close to the real needs of citizens".