Table of Contents
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the whole world by storm. The advent of this new technology has also created a significant impact on the healthcare industry. Integrating AI with healthcare can help in a precise analysis of the problem, choosing the right treatment, quickly achieving desired results, etc.
In the medical field, precise analysis is highly important to choose the right treatment. After all, it is related to someone’s health, life, or death in adverse conditions. When it comes to the healthcare sector, it is not possible to move forward with hypothetical terms.
When it comes to medical devices, then solid proofs, precision, and accuracy play important roles. It is a simple indicator that incorporating any technology in the healthcare sector isn’t that easy.
But recently Google has stated that Generative Artificial Intelligence has surprised the healthcare industry. Thus, Google has introduced some AI-based tools for healthcare organizations like MedLM and Vertex AI Search for Healthcare.
MedLM is designed to improve the research and analysis in the healthcare industry. On the other hand, Vertex AI’s search for healthcare tools can help to find the right information. All these apps can get detailed insight from the collected data.
Also, Google has promised to do more research in this field and increase the use of AI in the healthcare industry in 2024.
How AI is Going To Advance the Healthcare Sector In 2024
The healthcare sector has started using AI to enhance its efficiency in various kinds of processes. Let’s take a look at some of the examples that show how AI will improve the healthcare sector:
Administrative Workflow
People in the healthcare sector spend their precious time handling administrative tasks. With the help of AI, it is possible to automate various non-productive, and time-consuming.
For example, AI-based applications for the healthcare sector can help in note-taking and keeping records of essential things. It means these kinds of applications help to keep detailed records of every patient for a long time. Moreover, this AI-based tool speeds up administrative workflow without compromising quality. With the implementation of these tools, doctors will have more face time with patients.
Virtual Nursing Assistants
With the advancement in technology, people are getting habitual of using it. Therefore, most patients are comfortable with virtual nursing assistants. These AI-based assistants can work 24/7 and are ready to answer basic questions of patients and offer basic support.
Virtual nursing assistants are just like chatbots that can provide relevant answers related to the medical field. Also, they can forward patients’ reports to doctors or surgeons. These kinds of AI-based apps can reduce the unnecessary burden on medical staff like nurses. Consequently, they can spend more time with patients to provide necessary support.
Reduce Dosage Errors
Generative artificial intelligence is so advanced that it can also help with errors in patients’ dosages, especially in self-administered medications. Research was conducted by Nature Medicines and it was observed that more than 70% of patients failed to take insulin dosage as per prescription.
With the help of AI-powered tools and applications, dosage errors can be reduced because these tools sit in the patient’s background. These tools can identify errors while patients taking insulin shots.
Fraud Prevention
Just like other fields, the healthcare industry is facing a rising number of frauds. AI-based tools not only help in reducing burdens by automating mundane tasks but also help in reducing fraud. As per a few surveys, it is observed that the healthcare industry is encountering frauds of approx. $380 billion/year. These kinds of frauds are raising the cost of medical premiums for customers. The implementation of AI-based tools that can recognize unusual or suspicious patterns can help reduce fraud.
AI Can Improve Healthcare Users’ Experience
The worst part of the healthcare sector is bad communication between healthcare service providers. This gap hinders the overall experience of patients. Also, these kinds of gaps impact analysis by doctors. With the help of different AI technologies like Natural Language Processing, Speech Recognition, and Predictive analysis, it is possible to reduce the gap and improve healthcare users’ experience.
AI-based apps can help in collecting detailed information about patient’s treatment. Also, these kinds of apps will help to have meaningful conversations with patients.
Improve Health Monitoring & Preventive Care
Monitoring health is an essential part of preventive care to ensure good health. People who are suffering from any kind of health issue must have to continually monitor their progress. Also, they should share the recorded vital parameters with their doctors. Sharing these details with the doctor on a real-time basis will let the doctors regularly monitor health issues and suggest necessary solutions in case of a problem.
AI-based apps can help in tracking the health vitals of patients on a real-time basis and also share the reports with doctors immediately. Moreover, data collected by these AI-based apps not only help doctors to determine health problems at early stages but also help in detailed analysis in the long run. This modern technology can also help in tracking infectious diseases and study the pattern of these diseases.
AI Governance In Healthcare
Artificial intelligence is improving operational efficiency in various fields and reducing the burden on workers. Implementation of AI in healthcare is necessary and inevitable. With the growing demand for AI in healthcare, scientists have started working on new AI medical applications to meet the demands of healthcare users. However, there are some concerns related to transparency and privacy that are also rising with AI advancement in healthcare. It is imperative to address these issues while developing new apps.
Laura Craft, VP Analyst at Gartner said “AI governance is necessary, especially for clinical applications of the technology”.
Future And Potential Of AI In The Healthcare Ecosystem
With the flip of a switch, we are here in 2024. And, this year is all about artificial intelligence. This technology has also created buzz in 2023 and it is progressing with exponential speed. All sectors and fields are observing change with the progression of artificial intelligence. Healthcare sectors also try to leverage the maximum benefits of this new technology.
AI helps in reducing human errors, reducing the burden on medical and professional staff, and is available 24/7 to answer queries of patients. AI has vast potential and researchers are striving hard to unleash its true potential. Hopefully, we will have many AI-based applications in the healthcare sector. We can expect future AI tools will make the healthcare sector more efficient and reduce unwanted gaps between patients and doctors. Also, patients will be able to get the necessary care and treatment they deserve.
