Academic Journal
View in EDS

Beyond AI Literacy: Understanding Health Care Workforce AI Enablement in the Generative AI Era.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Beyond AI Literacy: Understanding Health Care Workforce AI Enablement in the Generative AI Era.
Authors: Liu CF; Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan., Ko YL; Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Rd, Yongkang District, Tainan, 710402, Taiwan, 886 62812811 ext 52590.; General Education Center, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan.
Source: Journal of medical Internet research [J Med Internet Res] 2026 Oct 05; Vol. 28, pp. e107290. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Oct 05.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: JMIR Publications Country of Publication: Canada NLM ID: 100959882 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1438-8871 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14388871 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Med Internet Res Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: <2011- > : Toronto : JMIR Publications
Original Publication: [Pittsburgh, PA? : s.n., 1999-
MeSH Terms: Artificial Intelligence* , Health Workforce*, Humans ; Generative Artificial Intelligence
Abstract: Unlabelled: The rapid diffusion of generative AI is transforming health care delivery, education, administration, and research. In response, health care organizations have invested heavily in AI literacy initiatives and workforce development programs. Existing frameworks primarily focus on whether health care professionals understand AI and whether they can engage with AI effectively. However, health care practice increasingly reveals that individuals with similar levels of AI literacy and AI engagement often contribute very differently to AI-enabled work and organizational adoption. Some professionals primarily use AI to improve their own work, whereas others facilitate AI adoption, coordinate stakeholders, and integrate AI into routine practice. This observation suggests that current perspectives may overlook an important dimension of workforce AI enablement. In this Viewpoint, we argue that AI literacy and AI engagement alone provide an incomplete explanation of how health care organizations realize the benefits of AI. Drawing upon literature from AI literacy, fluency theory, human-AI interaction, innovation diffusion, implementation science, and health care workforce development, we propose the health care workforce AI enablement matrix (HWAEM). HWAEM conceptualizes workforce AI enablement through 2 complementary capabilities: AI fluency and AI harnessing. AI fluency refers to the capability to engage with AI effectively, appropriately, and responsibly across professional contexts, whereas AI harnessing refers to the capability to identify opportunities for AI-enabled improvement, mobilize stakeholders, facilitate adoption, and integrate AI into collective work practices. The interaction of these capabilities generates 4 workforce profiles: AI novices, AI practitioners, AI facilitators, and AI leaders. Through HWAEM, this Viewpoint argues that health care workforce AI enablement is better understood through the complementary capabilities of AI fluency and AI harnessing than through AI literacy and AI engagement alone. We illustrate how these profiles manifest in health care practice and discuss implications for workforce development and AI implementation. HWAEM offers a new perspective for understanding health care workforce preparedness in the generative AI era and provides a foundation for future empirical research.
(© Chung-Feng Liu, Yen-Ling Ko. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org).)
References: JMIR Med Educ. 2025 Feb 05;11:e58161. (PMID: 39912237)
J Med Internet Res. 2025 Dec 8;27:e76709. (PMID: 41359863)
Milbank Q. 2004;82(4):581-629. (PMID: 15595944)
J Med Internet Res. 2025 Aug 26;27:e74187. (PMID: 40857713)
Behav Anal. 1996 Fall;19(2):163-97. (PMID: 22478257)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: AI; AI enablement; AI fluency; AI harnessing; AI literacy; artificial intelligence; artificial intelligence enablement; artificial intelligence fluency; artificial intelligence harnessing; artificial intelligence literacy; health care workforce
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20261005 Date Completed: 20261005 Latest Revision: 20261007
Update Code: 20261007
PubMed Central ID: PMC13637978
DOI: 10.2196/107290
PMID: 42832696
Database: MEDLINE
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://resolver.ebsco.com/c/fiv2js/result?sid=EBSCO:cmedm&genre=article&issn=14388871&ISBN=&volume=28&issue=&date=20261005&spage=e107290&pages=e107290&title=Journal of medical Internet research&atitle=Beyond%20AI%20Literacy%3A%20Understanding%20Health%20Care%20Workforce%20AI%20Enablement%20in%20the%20Generative%20AI%20Era.&aulast=Liu%20CF&id=DOI:10.2196/107290
    Name: Full Text Finder (for New FTF UI) (ns324271)
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text Finder
    MouseOverText: Full Text Finder
Header DbId: cmedm
DbLabel: MEDLINE
An: 42832696
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Beyond AI Literacy: Understanding Health Care Workforce AI Enablement in the Generative AI Era.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Liu+CF%22&quot;&gt;Liu CF&lt;/searchLink&gt;; Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Ko+YL%22&quot;&gt;Ko YL&lt;/searchLink&gt;; Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Rd, Yongkang District, Tainan, 710402, Taiwan, 886 62812811 ext 52590.; General Education Center, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan.
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;JN&quot; term=&quot;%22100959882%22&quot;&gt;Journal of medical Internet research&lt;/searchLink&gt; [J Med Internet Res] 2026 Oct 05; Vol. 28, pp. e107290. &lt;i&gt;Date of Electronic Publication: &lt;/i&gt;2026 Oct 05.
– Name: TypePub
  Label: Publication Type
  Group: TypPub
  Data: Journal Article
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Journal Info
  Group: Src
  Data: &lt;i&gt;Publisher: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;PB&quot; term=&quot;%22JMIR+Publications%22&quot;&gt;JMIR Publications &lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;i&gt;Country of Publication: &lt;/i&gt;Canada &lt;i&gt;NLM ID: &lt;/i&gt;100959882 &lt;i&gt;Publication Model: &lt;/i&gt;Electronic &lt;i&gt;Cited Medium: &lt;/i&gt;Internet &lt;i&gt;ISSN: &lt;/i&gt;1438-8871 (Electronic) &lt;i&gt;Linking ISSN: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;IS&quot; term=&quot;%2214388871%22&quot;&gt;14388871 &lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;i&gt;NLM ISO Abbreviation: &lt;/i&gt;J Med Internet Res &lt;i&gt;Subsets: &lt;/i&gt;MEDLINE
– Name: PublisherInfo
  Label: Imprint Name(s)
  Group: PubInfo
  Data: &lt;i&gt;Publication&lt;/i&gt;: &lt;2011- &gt; : Toronto : JMIR Publications&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Original Publication&lt;/i&gt;: [Pittsburgh, PA? : s.n., 1999-
– Name: SubjectMESH
  Label: MeSH Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Artificial+Intelligence%22&quot;&gt;Artificial Intelligence*&lt;/searchLink&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Health+Workforce%22&quot;&gt;Health Workforce*&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Humans%22&quot;&gt;Humans&lt;/searchLink&gt; ; &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Generative+Artificial+Intelligence%22&quot;&gt;Generative Artificial Intelligence&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Unlabelled: The rapid diffusion of generative AI is transforming health care delivery, education, administration, and research. In response, health care organizations have invested heavily in AI literacy initiatives and workforce development programs. Existing frameworks primarily focus on whether health care professionals understand AI and whether they can engage with AI effectively. However, health care practice increasingly reveals that individuals with similar levels of AI literacy and AI engagement often contribute very differently to AI-enabled work and organizational adoption. Some professionals primarily use AI to improve their own work, whereas others facilitate AI adoption, coordinate stakeholders, and integrate AI into routine practice. This observation suggests that current perspectives may overlook an important dimension of workforce AI enablement. In this Viewpoint, we argue that AI literacy and AI engagement alone provide an incomplete explanation of how health care organizations realize the benefits of AI. Drawing upon literature from AI literacy, fluency theory, human-AI interaction, innovation diffusion, implementation science, and health care workforce development, we propose the health care workforce AI enablement matrix (HWAEM). HWAEM conceptualizes workforce AI enablement through 2 complementary capabilities: AI fluency and AI harnessing. AI fluency refers to the capability to engage with AI effectively, appropriately, and responsibly across professional contexts, whereas AI harnessing refers to the capability to identify opportunities for AI-enabled improvement, mobilize stakeholders, facilitate adoption, and integrate AI into collective work practices. The interaction of these capabilities generates 4 workforce profiles: AI novices, AI practitioners, AI facilitators, and AI leaders. Through HWAEM, this Viewpoint argues that health care workforce AI enablement is better understood through the complementary capabilities of AI fluency and AI harnessing than through AI literacy and AI engagement alone. We illustrate how these profiles manifest in health care practice and discuss implications for workforce development and AI implementation. HWAEM offers a new perspective for understanding health care workforce preparedness in the generative AI era and provides a foundation for future empirical research.&lt;br /&gt; (&#169; Chung-Feng Liu, Yen-Ling Ko. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org).)
– Name: Ref
  Label: References
  Group: RefInfo
  Data: JMIR Med Educ. 2025 Feb 05;11:e58161. (PMID: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;PM&quot; term=&quot;%2239912237%22&quot;&gt;39912237)&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;J Med Internet Res. 2025 Dec 8;27:e76709. (PMID: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;PM&quot; term=&quot;%2241359863%22&quot;&gt;41359863)&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Milbank Q. 2004;82(4):581-629. (PMID: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;PM&quot; term=&quot;%2215595944%22&quot;&gt;15595944)&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;J Med Internet Res. 2025 Aug 26;27:e74187. (PMID: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;PM&quot; term=&quot;%2240857713%22&quot;&gt;40857713)&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Behav Anal. 1996 Fall;19(2):163-97. (PMID: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;PM&quot; term=&quot;%2222478257%22&quot;&gt;22478257)&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: SubjectMinor
  Label: Contributed Indexing
  Group:
  Data: &lt;i&gt;Keywords: &lt;/i&gt;AI; AI enablement; AI fluency; AI harnessing; AI literacy; artificial intelligence; artificial intelligence enablement; artificial intelligence fluency; artificial intelligence harnessing; artificial intelligence literacy; health care workforce
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date(s)
  Group: Date
  Data: &lt;i&gt;Date Created: &lt;/i&gt;20261005 &lt;i&gt;Date Completed: &lt;/i&gt;20261005 &lt;i&gt;Latest Revision: &lt;/i&gt;20261007
– Name: DateUpdate
  Label: Update Code
  Group: Date
  Data: 20261007
– Name: PubmedCentralID
  Label: PubMed Central ID
  Group: ID
  Data: PMC13637978
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.2196/107290
– Name: AN
  Label: PMID
  Group: ID
  Data: 42832696
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=cmedm&AN=42832696
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.2196/107290
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        StartPage: e107290
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Humans
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Generative Artificial Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health Workforce
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Beyond AI Literacy: Understanding Health Care Workforce AI Enablement in the Generative AI Era.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Liu CF
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ko YL
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 05
              M: 10
              Text: 2026 Oct 05
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1438-8871
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 28
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of medical Internet research
              Type: main
ResultId 1