Healthcare Meets Intelligent Automation
The Cleveland Clinic, one of the top hospitals in the country, recently launched a new center to promote its efforts to use artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The new center will focus on using AI and machine learning to improve medical research, clinical tools patient care. More and more healthcare organizations are turning to AI and intelligent automation (a combination of AI and automation) to restructure the industry and find new scientific discoveries.
As consumers, there are technologies we are familiar with using in different segments of our lives that are driven by intelligent automation. For example, our emails have filters and smart replies tailored to content. We even have the option to set reminders or have systems interpret if a response is needed. Predictive functionality in web searches and chatbots also use AI and intelligent automation and we’re starting to see more of these technologies enter the healthcare industry.
In healthcare, diagnosis, detection and decisions are enhanced by AI. Specifically, AI helps with the regulations and high demand for services that require efficiency with performing tasks and data management, especially in regard to patient privacy. It’s about working smarter, not harder.
We’ve been using automation and AI daily for many years, and it has many applications across healthcare. A large portion of busy work that consumes healthcare professionals can be transitioned to robots. In the U.S., it’s estimated that 25 percent of spending on hospital care is for administrative costs, and for every 10 doctors providing care, at least seven people are engaged in billing activities.
By automating basic tasks with tools like robotic process automation, organizations will be able to refocus their energies on more value-added tasks to help patients. Automation reduces the risk of human error and improves patient satisfaction. The healthcare sector can find ways to enhance customer experience and automate manual, repetitive tasks through:
- Claims processing – Whether it’s adjusting and handling appeals or entering data, claims administration is time consuming. You can accomplish more by automating and resolving those claims. There are billions of medical claims filed each year in the U.S. Decreasing the amount of time processing each claim will have a positive impact on your bottom line.
- Communication – Sending text and email reminders to patients about upcoming appointments or communicating via a chatbot can help track and log pertinent information like exercise, medications and overall well-being. Communication is also important for patient discharge instructions, including medications and reminders fors upcoming appointments.
- Billing – RPA can easily adapt to code changes made during the billing cycle that outdated systems cannot do. This streamlines the accounts payable process, increases efficiency and administrative processes for revenue.
With an ever-growing number of patients and an increase in workload, it’s necessary for processes to run as efficiently as possible. Instead of being bogged down by paper records, outdated legacy systems and complex legal regulations, turn to RPA for efficiency. By freeing up healthcare professionals from administrative tasks, you can focus on engaging patients.
Learn more about enhancing organizational outcomes through RPA by downloading our white paper.
