By Giselle Trinidad
In the United States, the medical field is one of the fastest-growing industries. With more than 40 career choices in healthcare and medicine, it is no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) integration is closely tied to this industry. The incorporation of AI is necessary to address various challenges associated with the administration, delivery, and research of healthcare. Providers can utilize AI to streamline hospital operations to improve patient care and lower costs. These promising capabilities of AI can lead many to question what AI is.
AI is a field that combines robust datasets and computer science to mimic the behaviors of human beings. It mimics human characteristics such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. In recent years, AI has gained popularity in many sectors, including manufacturing, finance, and fast food. The healthcare sector is no exception to this transformative wave. AI made its debut in medicine during the 1970s by helping solve biomedical issues. One noteworthy milestone was the creation of INTERNIST-1, the first experimental computer program designed for internal medicine. Scientists created it to reach diagnoses through a robust ranking algorithm. Over time, AI capability has become progressively sophisticated. From drug development to disease diagnosis and cost reduction, AI has significantly enhanced various aspects of healthcare. Integrating AI in healthcare will deliver promising applications to bolster patient care and assist care teams in delivering faster solutions.
In the realm of improving patient care, AI plays a crucial role in responding to patient communications. “Today, a vast majority of health systems, can’t quantify the inbound volume they receive from patients across their myriad channels (phone, web form, portal, text message, email, etc.), let alone how quickly and effectively those patient inquiries are reviewed and addressed, provided they’re reviewed and addressed at all. AI tools are increasingly valuable in ingesting, triaging, stratifying, recommending responses, and, in some cases, responding to certain inbound patient communications” (Siwicki, 2023). The integration of AI into healthcare not only streamlines processes but also assists healthcare providers in managing their workload by addressing non-emergency concerns. AI can classify patient needs and recommend the best course of action. Additionally, it can prioritize patients’ decisions to optimize recording for electronic health records, online scheduling, and geographic availability. AI can improve patient care by providing accurate predictions to health-risk individuals based on their analysis of patient records, family history, biomarker mapping, and more. The capabilities of AI extend to assisting with patient record medication intake, diet recording, and so much more.
Healthcare providers can harness the potential of AI to enhance the delivery of patient care significantly. The IBM blog states, “A recent study found that 83% of patients report poor communication as the worst part of their experience, demonstrating a strong need for clearer communication between patients and providers.” AI technology presents an opportunity for providers to optimize communication with patients during treatment and post-care. “This allows providers to efficiently capture their notes with the technical jargon that they are trained and most comfortable using, and it allows the AI to take that jargon and translate it to more digestible language for the patient’s unique needs” (Siwicki, 2023). For example, AI tools can assist in translating and summarizing discharge instructions to make them easier for patients to understand. This helps providers minimize patient readmission into hospitals by providing discharge instructions that are clear and in the language of the patient. As mentioned previously, AI can serve as a virtual nursing assistant to lessen the workload for healthcare professionals. This can be done by answering medication-related questions, forwarding reports to other providers, and seeking additional resources. Furthermore, AI can contribute to less invasive surgeries such as laparoscopic surgery. AI can help the pharmaceutical sector explore and develop new drugs. By screening chemical libraries and predicting the toxicity of compounds AI models can design new molecules. These models can prevent extensive laboratory testing and can provide optimization through enhanced efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties. Beyond clinical applications, AI can assist patients in identifying medical billing errors and guide them through the correction process, facilitating billing staff in efficiently resolving issues.
Even though AI’s impact on healthcare is profound, its role is to assist and not replace healthcare workers. Human expertise provides emotional support, adaptability to rapidly changing scenarios, accountability, and oversight in following ethical and professional standards to name the least. AI is a powerful tool designed to work alongside healthcare workers to deliver patient care. Other considerations that may arise for utilizing AI in the medical field include potential risks of misdiagnosis, exposure of data, and increased disparities in healthcare. For instance, facilities located in low-income areas may struggle to obtain and maintain these types of equipment. AI could contribute to existing health disparities due to the lack of computer training to account for all populations and include all demographic factors.
In essence, AI cannot replace healthcare providers, but it undeniably has the potential to enhance healthcare delivery significantly. AI’s impact extends across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, medical billing, and surgical procedures. In elevating patients’ experiences and engagement, AI plays a crucial role in minimizing language barriers and providing immediate access to relevant resources. Moreover, AI contributes to reduced wait times for non-emergency scenarios, enabling healthcare professionals to prioritize those with more urgent needs. By analyzing comprehensive patient records, AI assists providers in making informed recommendations, ensuring a thorough examination of each case. The preventive care focus of AI can also help avoid hospital readmissions by providing clear and personalized discharge instructions. Fostering collaboration between AI technology and healthcare providers holds the key to ensuring patient prioritization that will have long-term positive impacts.
References
IBM Education. (2023, July 11). The benefits of AI in Healthcare. IBM Blog. https://www.ibm.com/blog/the-benefits-of-ai-in-healthcare/
Cedars-Sinai Staff. (2023, April 20). Ai’s Ascendance in Medicine: A timeline. Cedars Sinai. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/discoveries/ai-ascendance-in-medicine.html
Siwicki, B. (2023, December 7). How AI can improve patient experience and patient engagement. Healthcare IT News. https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/how-ai-can-improve-patient-experience-and-patient-engagement
Xsolis. (n.d.). The Evolution of AI in Healthcare. https://www.xsolis.com/blog/the-evolution-of-ai-in-healthcare/