My Thoughts
Amir Zahoor
Business Leader | Volunteer | Board Member | Change Agent Leader of IBM Storage hardware/software architects who co-create solutions with their clients to drive their success.
Today, I read a blog written by Dr. Angela Spatharou , who summarized the top five healthcare trends for a leading European daily newspaper. While her primary audience was in Europe, the insights are globally relevant. Here's a summary of the key trends:
??????????? 1. Power to People
??????????? 2. Prevent, Rather than Cure
??????????? 3. Make Cure Personalized
??????????? 4. Show Value and ROI
??????????? 5. Fight Fragmentation, Silos, and Costly Legacy Systems
Challenges in the U.S. Healthcare System
In the United States, the average healthcare system uses 18 different Electronic Health Record (EHR) vendors. Epic Systems Corporation is the largest, followed by Oracle Cerner and MEDITECH. These systems often lack communication and integration, leading to challenges such as:
·?????? Fragmented patient data
·?????? Inefficient physician ordering processes
·?????? Delayed tests and referrals
When I read about the European approach, which emphasizes giving citizens more control over their own healthcare data, it felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air. We could greatly benefit from adopting similar practices here in the U.S.
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The Role of AI in Healthcare
AI is transforming every sector, so why not healthcare? Conversational generative AI agents could play a pivotal role in:
·?????? Conducting initial consultations, which can be reviewed by nurses and doctors.
·?????? Triaging patients, guiding them to their GP or specialists based on symptoms.
·?????? Diagnosing patients with available data and help doctors prescribe medication, which could then be sent directly to pharmacies.
This approach would not only save time for healthcare providers and patients but also help prevent future complications from delayed or mismanaged care.
The Future: Personalized and Hybrid Healthcare
Every individual has unique healthcare needs, and the future lies in personalized treatment. IBM, for instance, is collaborating with Moderna to accelerate research on mRNA therapeutics and vaccines by leveraging generative AI and Quantum computing.
The hybrid model, where generative AI supports nurses and doctors in diagnostics, can:
·?????? Reduce the workload on healthcare professionals.
·?????? Improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Breaking Down Silos
Working in silos is inefficient and costly, especially in healthcare. Europe has made significant progress in breaking down these barriers, and it's time for us to follow suit. Enhancing patient outcomes and embracing sustainable practices should be our top priority.