A Deep Dive into Empowered Patients, Advanced Technologies, and AI
In today’s world, physicians are bombarded with a growing bevy of healthcare technology, artificial intelligence (AI) powered tools, and solutions. These devices are most often designed as user-friendly digital healthcare that increases access to rapid diagnostics and provides patients and physicians with empowering medical information.
Tech Skills will be Essential to Success
AI medical technology is moving at an astounding pace. It is now possible for a patient to carry a credit card-sized ECG device that provides the convenience of instant uploads of information for medical review. Similarly, ER specialists can now wirelessly assess a 12-lead ECG in real time via a smartphone or tablet. Using handheld ultrasound devices, doctors can now quickly assess critically ill patients and get answers to important questions in seconds, not hours.
The FDA has already cleared deep learning AI platforms, including devices that read radiology images faster and reduce missed detections by an estimated 75%. Several companies are developing systems to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnostics by incorporating AI assisted digital pathology slides.
Doctors will soon depend on these AI powered tools as readily as we now depend on the internet, and physicians will be expected to become familiar with, and adept at interpreting their readings.
AI Cannot Replace Physicians
The role of physicians in the 21st century will be transformed by digital health technologies. Tech companies will continue to invest in medical artificial intelligence. But despite AI advances where automation already manages most of the mundane and data-intensive components, medical professionals are still needed due to experience, training, and in the event of device failures.
Human interaction will play an equally significant role in the future of medical practices despite the increased reliance on technology. Technologies aim is to help remove repetitive components of medical professionals’ jobs to allow them to focus more time on patient care.
Physicians in fields that rely heavily on patient interaction will continue to provide face to face visits despite the chatbots handling the patient triaging and monitoring. With a balance of technology and direct communication with patients, outcomes and frustration over administrative tasks can both improve.
People are wondering whether advanced technologies and automation will completely replace medical doctors in the near future. There are hurdles that cannot be overcome by AI just yet. Patient visits, trust, and experience are not easily replicated.
The adoption of new technologies might be slowed by such concerns. Most humans need understanding, time, and answers from their doctor. Particularly in potentially life altering situations, people want to hear from their physician, not read their results on a patient portal.
Many doctors prefer to rely on their normal clinical routine. We already have access to AI algorithms that can identify cancer faster than a radiologist, but many are concerned about what replaces human experience. Humans have knowledge and empathy that can be merged with AI’s predictive expertise in the future, with the goal of technology enhancing human performance, not competing against it.
Patients will Help Design Future Healthcare
The next milestone in medicine will be patient empowerment. Although AI does not replace physicians, healthcare professionals will increasingly work alongside new technology and their patients. Cooperation between technology and healthcare is critical, but not enough; the patient’s engagement and the power of a kind, human interaction cannot be underestimated.
A growing one third of Americans use daily wearable or portable health tech devices. These products integrate multiple health tracking features, so patients can consolidate their data for a more complete analysis. Taking responsibility for one’s health is patient empowerment, and it saves lives.
Regardless of the importance of technology, particularly in some medical specialties, patient involvement will always have a considerable impact on new technology development. Healthcare advances are putting the patient in charge, and many want to be more proactive and involved in managing their health.
These patient end-users can provide valuable feedback to help improve digital health tools and develop treatment protocol more effectively. It is impossible for a hospital to improve and operate well without a patient-centric care design that considers feedback.
Though technologies will play an important role in almost every medical specialty, not every practice will require the same set of digital health technology solutions. It is important to partner with an expert to identify which tools best suit your practice.
Some practices will see a significant impact due to advanced technologies, while others will not rely as heavily on AI. Patient engagement empowerment will play a pivotal role in shaping the new medical profession and provide the needed skills for practices to efficiently handle workload, reduce stress and provide the highest quality of care.
Healthcare is Becoming More Convenient
Today, almost no physician can work without utilizing digital tools. There is no doubt that advanced technologies will play a future central role in virtually every medical specialty. With diagnostic tools becoming smaller, more convenient, and with instant answers, less time is spent on redundant tasks, creating a better patient experience. Even in a specialty where automation can now handle most of the many repetitive and data-based components, we will still require the input of healthcare professionals, because patient interaction matters.
AI Novel Therapeutics in the Future
Although AI won’t replace doctors, physicians will increasingly need to depend on tech as part of their practice. AI and the major impact on tomorrow’s medical landscape is already here. For AI to work well, a key component is patient empowerment through participation.
FDA cleared deep learning novel therapeutics are on the horizon, these incredible devices allow for accurate examinations and rapid results. Exciting breakthroughs using AI technology means physicians will be able to diagnose patients with more speed and accuracy.
Patient involvement is equally as important as the advancement of technology is to the future of medicine. Patient interaction will provide the best input for shaping diagnostic and curative tools in the future. Technology has changed healthcare for the patient permanently, it now is allowing the patient to be heard and take initiative in managing their healthcare. As the end-users of digital health tools and new treatment approaches, their feedback is valuable in refining solutions more effectively.
Doctors can expect to switch gears to a combination of the human touch combined with AI’s predictive abilities. Instead of receiving AI with reticence, medical technology should be viewed as a tool to improve human performance.
Future healthcare technology and AI advancements will require physicians to involve patients more than ever. Reducing your practice’s administrative burden is key in making time for patient care. For more insights into the tech future of healthcare, contact Virtual Officeware Healthcare Solutions. We have the tools to help medical professionals find their best software solutions as AI continues to modernize their practice.