Harnessing the Power of AI in Healthcare

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming nearly every industry, and healthcare is no exception. AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare in many ways: from improving patient outcomes, to increasing work efficiency, to reducing operating costs.

Emerging AI Trends in the Healthcare Landscape

We have already seen significant ways in which AI has begun to change healthcare:

• Personalized medicine: AI is being used to develop personalized medicine, which is tailored specifically to the individual needs of each patient without as much manual effort from the provider. This can be done by using AI to analyze large datasets of patient data to identify patterns and trends that can be used to predict which treatments are most likely to be effective for each patient.[1]
• Robotics: AI-powered robots are being used in a variety of healthcare applications, such as surgery, rehabilitation, and patient care. While it is important to realize these robots cannot replace human providers, they are able to provide a helping-hand in many processes. Robots can perform tasks that are too dangerous or difficult for humans, and they can also provide companionship and support to patients.[2]
• Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR): VR and AR are being used to train healthcare professionals, provide patients with educational resources, and create immersive experiences that can help patients manage their conditions.[3] Although often associated with one another, it’s important to distinguish that VR is used more specifically for training and simulation scenarios, while AR has the ability to provide healthcare professionals with real-time information and guidance.
• Natural language processing (NLP): NLP is being used to analyze patient data and clinical notes to identify patterns and trends that can be used to improve care. NLP can also be used to create chatbots that can answer patients’ questions and provide support.[4]

How AI Can Increase Efficiency and Optimize Outcomes in Healthcare

Key benefits to utilizing AI in healthcare include the ability to increase efficiency in processes and optimize patient outcomes. For example, AI can be used to:

• Automate tasks: AI can automate a variety of tasks in healthcare, such as scheduling appointments, processing paperwork, and analyzing data. This can free up healthcare professionals to focus on more patient-facing tasks.[5]
• Predict risks: AI can be used to predict risks for patients, such as the risk of readmission or the risk of developing a chronic disease. This information can be used to intervene early and prevent complications.[6]
• Reduce the number of diagnostic errors: AI-powered diagnostics can help doctors identify diseases earlier, faster, and with greater accuracy, which can lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes.[7]
• Speed up the drug discovery process: AI can help pharmaceutical companies develop new drugs more quickly and efficiently, which can bring new treatments to patients sooner.[8]
• Personalize treatment: AI can be used to personalize treatment for patients, based on their individual needs and preferences. This can lead to better outcomes for patients.
• Reduce costs: AI can be used to reduce costs in healthcare by automating tasks, improving efficiency, optimizing processes, and preventing complications.

How Healthcare Providers Can Harness the Power of AI

There is no doubt that AI is a powerful tool for healthcare. But with that, it’s important to recognize that there are potential negative impacts if AI is improperly implemented or utilized without a plan. The ideal way to implement use of AI in healthcare is to ensure that proper planning, smart investments, and appropriate training are all considered. Healthcare providers are then best able to harness the power of AI to improve care by:

• Investing in AI solutions: Healthcare providers can invest in AI solutions that can automate tasks, predict risks, and personalize treatment. This can help to improve efficiency and outcomes for patients.
• Partnering with AI companies: Healthcare providers can partner with AI companies to develop and deploy AI solutions that are tailored to their specific needs. This can help to ensure that AI is used effectively and efficiently.
• Training staff on AI: Healthcare staff need to be trained on AI so that they can use it effectively. This training should cover the basics of AI, as well as the specific AI solutions that are being used in the healthcare organization. The training provides the opportunity for staff to learn the true benefits of their organization’s use of AI, while alleviating any unaddressed concerns.

Partnerships for Modernization and Future-Proofing

Many stakeholders in healthcare are utilizing partnerships in order to better harness AI’s potential to optimize and modernize healthcare processes. Some examples include:

• Healthcare providers and AI companies: Healthcare providers can partner with AI companies to develop and deploy AI solutions that are tailored to their specific needs. This can help to ensure that AI is used effectively and efficiently.
• Healthcare providers and government agencies: Government agencies can partner with healthcare providers to fund the development and deployment of AI solutions. This can help to accelerate the adoption of AI in healthcare for those who have budget constraints.
• Healthcare providers and educational institutions: Educational institutions can partner with healthcare providers to train healthcare staff on AI. This can help to ensure that healthcare staff have the skills they need to use AI effectively.

By leveraging partnerships, healthcare providers can harness the power of AI to improve efficiency and overall outcomes for patients. This can help to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for everyone.

11TEN’s Commitment to the Future of Healthcare

At 11TEN, we have invested in bringing a world-class innovation and collaboration Lab space to Atlanta for healthcare and technology leaders. This space will be a nexus for companies to come together with key opinion leaders to experience the next generation of technology, co-develop new use cases, and host events. The technology within this space will enable innovation with foundational technologies like connectivity (5G), cloud competing (MEC), and computational processing (high performance computing) – these technologies enable the next generation of tools such as IOT, AR/VR, etc.

In addition to the physical space, our team is able to structure the unstructured processes, across the continuum, to create an environment where innovation can thrive. The technologies available within our Lab will truly enhance this approach to further transform the future of healthcare.

The bottom-line – the human aspect of care cannot be replaced, and the critical analysis abilities of individuals will never be matched by AI tools. However, by utilizing the unique power of AI in purposeful methods, AI is set to assist in improving efficiency and outcomes for patients and their health journeys.