Artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare across the world, with medical firms now tasked with trying to find the balance between delivering a personal, yet reliable experience to patients, while still using AI to save time and manpower.
Physicians especially could benefit from using AI, with the software already available that could stop them having to do five general tasks, leaving them to focus on more important aspects of their role.
Initial assessments
Chatbots are now very good at answering routine questions, and helping patients schedule appointments based on urgency. For example, Buoy, can guide patients to appropriate care settings based on their reported symptoms. Using AI to direct patients to the right resources leads to fewer unnecessary appointments and a more efficient workflow for physicians.
Diagnosing images
AI-powered imaging tools are already out on the market and are aiding specialists in accurately identifying abnormalities in X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. These deep learning models trained on large datasets of medical images can detect early-stage cancers, fractures, and other conditions, often identifying subtle details that the human eyes might miss. Nanox Vision is an AI imaging platform doing exactly this and providing a powerful second read to accuracy.
Transcribing documents
On average, physicians can spend up to ten hours of their working week doing administrative tasks when generative AI software already has the power to automate most of these process. For example, AI medical scribes can transcribe conversations between doctors and patients in real time, generating complete drafts of clinical notes, leaving physicians to check the final versions for peace of mind.
Automating routine tasks
AI software can also assist with follow-up reminders, appointment scheduling, and prescription refills. For example, when a patient needs a routine medication refill, AI can automatically verify eligibility and send the refill request to the appropriate pharmacy. The software also sends patients reminders for upcoming appointments.
Decision making
AI can also assist physicians in making better-informed clinical decisions by evidence-based recommendations at the point of care. Clinical decision support (CDS) tools draw on huge sets of data such as medical history and recent medical research to provide treatment suggestions tailored to each patient. For example, UpToDate is a tool that provides physicians with evidence-based, real-time answers to clinical questions.
