Healthcare: Can AI & Automation help?

Day 1, 2022 Tinker Family Ski Trip

My wife and I understand “not” enjoying cold weather and having little to no skills in any winter sport. To fully appreciate that comment, I should point out that we are very athletic and do a vast array of summertime activities which include water skiing, hiking, swimming, etc. In fact, our kids pointed out— in late 2021 – that we had never been on holiday/vacation to a location in which the average temperature was below 70°F.?So, in late 2021, with the “kids” being the influencing factor, we decided to venture into the frozen tundra.?Yes, a location that would be darker, colder, blizzard like, snow-covered, frigid landscape. To those beach-going, warm-weather-loving, tropic-island-exploring people – you’re in for a treat!?

It should come as no surprise that both my wife and I were somewhat reluctant. How could something so cold, bring any pleasure.?After spending the first morning in ski school, where the family and I learned the basics “lean forward”, it was time to venture into the snow-covered mountains of Deer Valley, Utah. Fortunately, our waterskiing skills allowed us to adapt quickly.?We stayed on the green, and in fact, had some amazing memories.?One such memory was my wife, being rescued off the mountain and rushed to the emergency room. Fear not, she mended well, with 7+ screws, metal plate, and memories!?All of this happened on day 1 – just wait to you learn about day 2 in my next Newsletter – but for now, lets stay focused on Day 1 -- your in for a treat!?

So how does a ski trip, healthcare, AI, & Automation line up in this newsletter??What better way to help everyone understand the power of AI & Automation than relating it to a real-life healthcare scenario.??

Healthcare's Two-Sided Challenge

Healthcare companies are challenged on multiple fronts: on one side, talent; while on the other side technology. In many cases, those two issues overlap. Those with talent do not wish to practice in an organization lacking technology. Likewise, organizations with advanced technology cannot operate without talent. Therefore, it’s critical for the healthcare organization continuously evolve with technological advancements.

The current trend is around AI and how this cutting-edge technology can bring massive value to hospitals and primary healthcare centers. The value is realized in HR, finance, compliance, security, and data accuracy within this landscape. In fact, by reducing manual labor, while at the same time improving accuracy and efficiency, the providers and healthcare staff can focus on the needs of the patient. Just as they did for my wife on our first ever ski trip "Day 1".

AI in the emergency medical field of modern hospitals is transforming the way emergency room doctors, surgeons, nurses, and medical staff deliver life-saving as well as "quality of life" results. AI is just another tool – an advance technology allowing doctors to diagnose and treat patients faster and more accurately than ever before. In fact, this tool “AI” can quickly detect subtle changes in patient vital signs, alert doctors to potential issues before they become serious, and provide real time analysis of scans and test results. This helps emergency room, doctors and surgeons make informed decisions within minutes under extreme pressure, helping them provide the best quality care possible.

Case in point – one such tool is called computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) which is an AI driven technology system for medical imaging analysis.?This “tool” – remember, its just another ‘tool” – helps doctors better diagnose and treat broken bones – just as in the case of my wife’s wrist.?The key is speed – leveraging this new technological tool, providers can process medical imaging analysis quickly to determine any concerns within the X-Ray, CT or other scan and detect fractures as well as assess the severity of the injury.???Lastly, most modern CAD systems can produce 3D models of broken bones that can be leveraged by providers to plan the best course of treatment.

In short, hospitals and clinics should leverage AI-driven technology to stay ahead of the curve, and ensure their patients receive the best possible care. AI can assist in predicting trends, identifying patterns, and providing personal service to improve the quality of care. Furthermore, AI solutions can help reduce cost and streamline processes, yielding a more efficient healthcare system. As AI technologies advance, hospitals and clinics should take advantage of its many benefits in order to remain competitive and provide the best care for their patients.

AI in Action!

From the hospital bed, Kristen gives us a thumbs up. It was a bad break, however it was not a compound fracture – but close. Just over one inch out of alignment.?The how? Well, it’s not a glamours story.?I know what you’re thinking… high velocity, mogul run, too close to a tree, or some other wild and crazy adventure. Unfortunately, no. The truth is, the four of us went to the top of the mountain on the green trail (remember, our 1st time skiing on snow).?At the top, we stopped to take a few photographs of the beautiful mountain landscape.?The cover Photo was of the four of us taken on March 11, @ 2:33 PM 2022 at the top of the mountain minutes prior to the acident.

As we gathered our stuff, "clipping" our ski boots to our skies, we each started to inch down the mountain -- waiting on the other to get fully prepared to takeoff. It was during this moment that my son (in the red coat) was heading down the hill slowly, waiting on me and my daughter, when he ran into his mother. His speed was not a factor. It was just the way she fell, with my son entangled. By some freak of nature, my son’s ski became a makeshift hatchet.?The force of how it landed on my wife’s arm snapped the bone. It looked as if she had two wrist joints 2 inches apart -?OUCH!!!

Back on the trail

For hospitals and primary healthcare centers, AI and automation can bring value to not just the business operation but patient experience. By leveraging, AI, providers can provide care faster with personalized healthcare advice that’s tailored to the individual patient. It is critical to keep in mind that AI & automation is just another tool. Leveraged in the right way, the modern digital tool-bag empowers providers and medical staff to streamline operations, improve accuracy, reduce cost, and improve patient care. The key is for healthcare organizations investing in the right technology to ensure that they can keep up with the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.

Conclusion

By understanding the challenges that healthcare organizations face and implementing the right AI & automation solutions, organizations can improve their financial accounting, governance processes, and medical delivery. Healthcare organizations must identify the areas where they can get the most value and invest in the right technology. Having a trusted, full-stack solution provider will help you make the right investments regarding your AI, automation, and digital assets for your healthcare organization which in-turn will allow you to stay competitive and improve overall patient experience. Reach out to our team, and give us the opportunity to provide detailed examples of our success in this space - we have some amazing stories (not as good as my wife's accident) :)...

In the meantime, the kids and I will try and talk my wife into another ski trip… (yes, the kids are begging to go again)! Will Mom say yes? Stay tuned! I'll answer that question, + tell you about Day 2 in my next newsletter. I know what your thinking, the fun must have ended in Day 1... LOL, nope, Day 2 is another wild adventure - but rest assure, mom was cozy warm on the coach reading a book. Day 2 is all DAD.

To learn more about how automation can help your healthcare business, I invite you to reach out and start a conversation with me or my company. I look forward to hearing from you.