7 Practical Ways Technology Can Improve Healthcare
In the not-so-distant future, healthcare will be transformed by artificial intelligence and robotics, just as it has been transformed by digital technology over the past few decades. The application of AI and robotics in healthcare can have a positive impact on quality of care, cost efficiency, and patient experience. Today’s healthcare industry is suffering from a major problem: it is extremely expensive and inefficient. Studies show that the U.S. spends over 17% of GDP on healthcare but gets significantly lower-quality care compared to other developed countries. Healthcare costs continue to escalate and insured Americans are stuck with ever-higher deductibles and co-payments. It’s no wonder that people are turning to technology to address these issues. In this article, we’ll explore some of the ways technology can improve healthcare.
AI Helps Monitor Clinical Quality
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to monitor clinical quality and reduce the need for excess patient data. AI has a number of functions in healthcare, but one of its primary goals is to assist with monitoring quality. In addition to detecting errors, AI can be used for continuous quality improvement, making it easier for providers to stay up-to-date on clinical guidelines. AI can also help identify gaps in care by identifying cases where the appropriate care wasn’t given.
AI Helps Manage Patient Flow
- AI can help manage patient flow by tracking and predicting the length of stay for each patient. This will allow hospitals to better predict staffing needs, improve resource utilization, and reduce waiting times for patients.
- Artificial intelligence is also increasingly being used in healthcare to assist physicians with diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic are already using IBM’s Watson AI system to help diagnose cancer, heart disease, and other diseases. The system provides access to a vast amount of medical data that can be analyzed by physicians at the push of a button.
- Robotics are also being used in healthcare fields such as surgery, nursing care, physical rehabilitation, and home caregiving tasks like bathing or meal preparation. Robots have been put to work assisting surgeons with complex surgical procedures such as prostatectomy or cardiac bypass surgeries by taking over tedious tasks like suturing or applying staplers while freeing up doctors’ hands, saving time, and reducing human error rates.
AI Helps Physicians Make Informed Treatment Decisions
Machines will never replace doctors, but they can help them work more efficiently. One way that technology is improving healthcare is by assisting physicians with making informed treatment decisions. AI systems are able to review patient data and make recommendations to the physician, including diagnosis and treatment options. This allows physicians to focus on what they do best, which is helping patients.
Digital Patients
The health care industry is already digitizing medical records and monitoring patient’s vital signs, but it doesn’t stop there. In the future, we may see AI-powered doctors that can give consultations remotely or robots providing basic healthcare services in areas with a shortage of medical professionals.
Robotic Medicine
Robots can play a significant role in healthcare. For example, they can help with surgeries and surgical planning. Doctors can simulate a surgery on a 3D printed model to practice the perfect cut or stitch before the real thing. Robots can also be used for robotic surgery, like da Vinci Surgery robots that use tiny incisions to remove tumors without damaging nearby organs. These systems allow surgeons to perform complex procedures from a remote location, which means more patients could have access to high-quality care when and where they need it.
Conclusion
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent in healthcare, it’s important to understand how it’s used in the field. AI is already making a difference in the healthcare industry, from monitoring clinical quality to helping physicians make informed treatment decisions.
