Balasubramanian (Bala) Sankaranarayanan, President and CEO, Thryve Digital highlights that generative AI stands poised to revolutionise digital experiences, shifting them from impersonal to deeply personalise by harnessing data to forge meaningful connections between healthcare providers and patients
Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to profoundly reshape the patient care landscape, bringing about significant improvements in both the healthcare experience and the automation of operations across provider, payer, and pharmaceutical entities. The synergy between advanced algorithms and medical expertise is expected to propel the global AI in healthcare market to a projected $45.2 billion by 2026, as highlighted in a comprehensive report by Allied Market Research.
For quite some time, patients have expressed their desire for a healthcare future characterised by the swift evolution of digital healthcare technology. This future envisions medical teams being able to:
- Get a seamless 360 degree view of the patient (viz. all relevant data required to make a prompt and accurate diagnosis)
- Implement a comprehensive approach to patient treatment that spans various systems and reports.
- Proactively inform patients about preventive measures to mitigate the risk of future adverse health outcomes, such as heart disease or diabetes.
- Deliver a connected end-to-end experience that caters to patients’ health needs from the initial encounter to the discharge phase.
In the coming years, the advent of generative AI is poised to revolutionise how patients navigate the intricacies of the healthcare system, placing a premium on human relationships and personalised experiences at the core of provider organisations’ strategies for 2024.
Care and cover
Gen AI presents an innovative approach to address the challenge of bridging the gap between the demand for care and the limited supply of healthcare professionals. By leveraging this technology, the healthcare providers can enhance accessibility and improve the quality of care for a diverse range of patients, including those with specific needs like visually impaired individuals or those requiring mental health support.
Through data analysis and predictive algorithms, Gen AI can identify potential health risks early on, enabling proactive interventions. This is exemplified in the context of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, where timely alerts and personalised recommendations can prevent complications and hospitalisations.
Patient data security
As healthcare becomes increasingly digitised, concerns regarding the security of patient data have become paramount. Initiatives such as converting pictorial text into audio representation using Gen AI, showcase the potential of technology to facilitate secure and private interactions, especially in the sensitive realm of mental health. Moreover, the use of Gen AI in prioritising and analysing medical images, as illustrated in the case of age-related macular degeneration, not only streamlines processes but also ensures that critical information is handled efficiently without compromising patient privacy.
Opportunity to leapfrog
The healthcare sector has traditionally been resistant to rapid technological advancements due to privacy concerns and the critical nature of medical decision-making. Gen AI presents a unique opportunity for leapfrogging, especially in countries like India, where innovative solutions can address longstanding challenges in healthcare delivery.
The examples of using Gen AI for preventive care and individual health management showcase how technology can fill gaps in healthcare infrastructure. This leapfrogging can result in more efficient and accessible healthcare services, reducing the burden on an already strained healthcare system.
Empowering the human in the healthcare ecosystem
One of the most significant impacts of Gen AI is the shift towards patient-centric healthcare. The technology empowers individuals by providing them with personalised, data-driven insights into their health. The move from population health management to individual health management signifies a fundamental shift in healthcare delivery.
Apart from this, the emphasis on data democratisation ensures that individuals have access to relevant and accurate information, reducing dependency on generalised internet searches. Patients are becoming more informed and proactive participants in their healthcare journey, leading to a more collaborative and empowering healthcare ecosystem.
Looking back to think ahead
Generative AI stands poised to revolutionise digital experiences, shifting them from impersonal to deeply personalise by harnessing data to forge meaningful connections between healthcare providers and patients.
In the times to come, the current capabilities of generative AI can be leveraged to:
- Prioritise a patient’s health condition through generative AI in virtual emergency rooms or with home equipment like portable pulse oximeters. This builds upon existing services that offer same-day emergency diagnoses.
- Implement automated text messaging services, such as a Crisis Text Line, to assist individuals in crisis by connecting them with mental health practitioners or facilitating prescription refills.
- Automate providers’ customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities, including the production of welcome letters and the generation of automated reports.
- Streamline claims management processes by auto-generating prior authorisations, creating claims summaries, and drafting responses to appeals and grievances.
In conclusion
The journey is both promising and challenging, demanding ongoing collaboration between technologists, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. As we look ahead, we must continually question, adapt, and ensure that the transformative power of Gen AI aligns with the fundamental principles of equity, privacy, and, above all, the well-being of every individual on this path to a reimagined healthcare future.
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