OpenEvidence: why an “AI mindset” matters

When we talk about innovation in healthcare, it is not just about having artificial intelligence, but above all about cultivating an AI mindset: using artificial intelligence as a partner in clinical practice, beyond its role as a gadget. The American startup OpenEvidence is an example of how this is already happening. Its success story shows why decision-makers at healthcare institutions should pay attention to the topic.

Who OpenEvidence is

OpenEvidence is an AI company focused on medical professionals that has developed a search and clinical decision support platform. According to the most recent data, the tool:

• is used in more than 10,000 hospitals and medical centers in the United States;

• is used by about 40% of US physicians, who log in to the platform every day;

• a figure that appears in some publications: about 430,000 physicians use the platform

These numbers are impressive, even though the exact figure varies slightly depending on the source. What matters is the scale of adoption and the pace of growth.

What this teaches us about the AI mindset

OpenEvidence’s success calls for in-depth reflection on a few relevant points.

Reducing information overload

The medical literature is expanding at a pace that makes it impossible for a professional to keep up with everything alone. OpenEvidence offers precisely a “copilot for medicine” to organize, filter and deliver relevant evidence at the point of care. For healthcare managers and hospital leaders, this means less time lost searching, more time for clinical decisions and more focus on patient care.

Better results + a human focus

When AI takes on the tasks of screening and ranking evidence, helps synthesize the literature or guides quick reviews, professionals can free up energy for what really matters: human interaction, follow-up, care. The AI mindset assumes that technology does not replace the physician, but amplifies them.

Strategic adoption across different segments

Whether the hospital works in oncology, emergency care or primary care, adopting AI tools takes more than installing software. You need to think about:

• integration with clinical workflows;

• data credibility (OpenEvidence partners with journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine and the American Medical Association);

• training professionals to use the tool critically and ethically.

Time saved = more attention for the patient

Anyone who leads a healthcare institution knows that time is one of the scarcest “currencies”: time to talk, to train the team, to think about management. When AI helps reduce operational or research tasks, there is more room for a culture of care — which, in the end, is what sets an institution of excellence apart.

Implications for your institution

As a decision-maker at a healthcare institution (whether a hospital, a network or a clinic), it is worth considering:

• Assess the stage of AI adoption in your specific segment: are there still resistance, integration gaps and regulatory challenges?

• Work on culture change: an AI mindset is not about “adding AI” but about “thinking with AI” — that is, reflecting on how the tool will fit into practice, workflows and care.

• Prioritize tools with evidence, integration and credibility: OpenEvidence’s data show that its rapid adoption came with strong content partnerships.

• Monitor the impact: less time spent searching and screening means more time for care. Measure indicators such as decision time, time at the bedside and professional and patient satisfaction.

• Beware of excessive hype: even powerful tools require responsible adoption. The AI mindset demands questioning, review and ethics.

OpenEvidence shows that we are already beyond the “AI concept”: there are high-impact platforms in medical routine, adopted at scale. For healthcare institutions, this opens a concrete path to evolve — not just technologically, but culturally. Adopting an AI mindset means seeing artificial intelligence as a partner in care, freeing professionals for what matters: the patient, the interaction, trust and the culture of care.

If you are not yet familiar with us, reach out to the Rivio team and learn how we can transform performance quality in medicine and healthcare.