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Fixing Work, Not Workers: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Combat Burnout in Canadian Healthcare

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Burnout among healthcare workers in Canada remains a critical challenge with implications for workforce retention, patient safety, and system sustainability. Traditional responses have often emphasized individual coping strategies rather than structural change. This article argues that Artificial Intelligence (AI) might offer new opportunities to address some of the organizational drivers of burnout. We outline three domains where AI may provide value: (1) enhancing the measurement and understanding of burnout, (2) strengthening workforce planning and operational decision-making, and (3) mitigating workplace risks through process redesign and automation. By shifting attention from "fixing workers" to "fixing work," AI might be part of the "solution" to support healthier, more sustainable healthcare environments.

Source: Healthcare Management Forum

DOI: 10.1177/08404704261420330

Authors: Taylor Martin, Robert Maunder, Gillian Strudwick

Institutions: University of Toronto, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,200