The Real ROI In Healthcare Tech? Return On Influence

James Lindsey is the IT Strategy and Innovation Principal at Texas Oncology.

In healthcare, when we think about investment in technology, we’re often more interested in how soon and how effectively it will pay for itself. We’ve been trained to think of ROI strictly in terms of dollars and cents—what did you spend, and what did you get back? But when you’re leading innovation in a field like oncology, where stakes are high, lives are on the line and burnout is rampant, that narrow definition just isn’t the right thing to measure.

I’ve started reframing the entire concept of ROI, moving from “return on investment” to a more meaningful “return on influence.”

The dictionary defines influence as “the power to have an important effect on someone or something.” I believe return on influence is the cumulative impact that a technology has across an organization over time, even if that impact doesn’t immediately show up on the balance sheet.

This shift in thinking isn’t just a philosophical exercise meant to punt the valid question of financial investment. Instead, it’s a necessary evolution to let us keep pace with technology while meeting the complex needs of our providers and patients.

Strategic Survival In The Age Of AI

Healthcare organizations are hesitant to invest in AI due to high upfront costs, ongoing expenses for system maintenance, and the need for continuous human oversight. It can take time to gain widespread adaptation and trust, and returns can be slow. These financial hurdles can lead to the perception that technology adoption simply isn’t worth it.

Let’s be honest—if you’re not thinking strategically about how AI fits into your healthcare delivery model, you’re falling behind. AI is everywhere. It’s in our phones, in our workflows, and increasingly in our clinical decision-making tools. As I see it, embracing AI isn’t just a smart move—it’s a matter of strategic survival.

Take AI-assisted imaging or pathology reading tools. They are certainly an expensive upfront investment. But in medicine, where precision is everything, the accuracy and speed AI brings to diagnostics are game changers. When we can get a more accurate diagnosis faster, that sets off a positive chain reaction: faster treatment, improved outcomes, more efficient care and yes—eventually—even cost savings.

But none of that happens if we’re stuck waiting for a balance sheet in the black to prove the value. It’s not about tracking money right away. It’s about measuring momentum, understanding how innovation reduces diagnostic guesswork and trusting that the long-term impacts are worth the investment.

Most healthcare technology doesn’t pay off in months or quarters. Often, it works in waves—creating small but powerful ripples that eventually transform systems, outcomes and experiences. It’s about measuring momentum, not just money.

Innovation That Tackles Burnout

Today, highly trained nurses, doctors and pharmacists spend hours doing administrative work—inputting data, clicking through menus and writing reports. They’re essentially some of the most expensive clerks in the country. That’s not sustainable, nor smart. I think we can all agree that a doctor’s time is much better spent providing patient care.

Administrative tasks, charting and paperwork all contribute to clinician burnout. According to the American Medical Association, in 2023 48.2% of physicians reported having at least one symptom of burnout. The AMA says, “While many factors contribute to physician burnout, the burnout epidemic is often associated with system inefficiencies, administrative burdens and increased regulation and technology requirements.”

It is startling that not only do half of physicians experience burnout, but that the causes are often related to the tools they are provided. My job is to invest in tools that help ease those burdens and have a positive influence on clinician experience. If we can successfully do that, we improve satisfaction at work and retain providers longer—a critical advantage when the cost of replacing a single oncologist can hit a million dollars. That’s ROI too—just not the kind you’ll find in a quarterly report.

The ripple effect that starts with easing provider burdens can also improve staff experience, referring provider experience, and, most importantly, patient experience. When our providers can spend less time buried in keyboards—and more time being present with their patients, patients notice. A patient feeling heard and important may be a small change on paper, but it’s a massive shift in patient satisfaction and can even lead to better health outcomes.

Piloting With Purpose

We never jump into new tech blindly. Every investment goes through rigorous due diligence, followed by focused pilots. For us, 90 days is usually enough. With 2.1 million patients in our network, even a single-site pilot can touch more than 100,000 lives. That gives us the data we need to make informed decisions—about both clinical value and operational impact.

We’re looking for tech that either solves a burning need or meaningfully enhances the way we deliver care today. If it does both, even better.

Keeping The Heart In Healthcare

Innovation isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about keeping the heart in healthcare. The more stressed our providers are, the less emotionally available they can be for patients. And our patients—especially in oncology—are often at their most vulnerable. If technology can give providers more time, more presence and less emotional fatigue, it creates a better environment for everyone involved.

Ultimately, this all comes back to reframing the conversation around what measurement is most impactful. If we focus only on immediate financial return, we miss the bigger picture: the influence that technology has on retention, satisfaction, access, and trust. These are the things that actually move the needle over time.

So yes, count the beans if you have to. But more importantly, count the ripples.

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