A survey released recently said doctors are spending an inordinate amount of time on electronic health records. The increase in time spent on this task has risen from 4.5 hours per every eight hours spent with patients to 5.5 hours per every eight hours, largely because of the spike in telemedicine visits. Physician burnout is already a major concern in the healthcare industry, and the increasing demand of increased EHR work will not help. One emerging solution for doctors may be the ability for artificial intelligence (AI) to help with administrative tasks.
Ways AI can help doctors with administration
AI technology has made significant advancements in recent years, offering immense potential for improving various aspects of healthcare administration. By automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks, AI can help doctors reduce administrative burdens and improve overall productivity. Here are some important areas where AI can help reduce time spent on certain tasks:
Patient Scheduling and Appointment Management
Managing patient appointments can take a lot of time for doctors and their administrative staff. AI-powered scheduling systems can intelligently analyze available time slots, patient preferences, and physician availability to facilitate seamless appointment scheduling. This not only saves time but also ensures the best use of resources available to doctors.
Electronic Health Records (EHR) Management
One area where AI can help transform healthcare administration is EHR management. AI algorithms can effectively process, organize, and analyze large swaths of patient data, eliminating the need for manual entry. This not only reduces errors but also allows doctors to access critical patient information quickly and make the best decisions for individual patients.
Medical Transcription and Documentation
AI-powered speech recognition technology can transcribe doctor-patient conversations accurately and convert them into medical notes. This eliminates the need for manual typing or outsourcing transcription services, allowing doctors to focus more on patient interactions and significantly speeding up the documentation process.
Challenges of doctors using AI
While AI holds immense potential, there are challenges with the relatively new technology that must be addressed to ensure its successful integration into healthcare administration. While different doctors will feel different ways, AI is here to stay, and there are ways to build trust in the technology. Here are some of the ways doctors can overcome some of the fear associated with AI:
Regular Training and Familiarization
Doctors should commit to taking part in regular training to familiarize themselves with AI technology and its applications in administrative tasks. This training will help them embrace AI tools confidently and use them to their full potential.
Privacy and Security Measures
As AI involves handling sensitive patient data, doctors must ensure that proper privacy and security measures are in place. Collaborating with a trusted IT partner and adhering to legal and ethical guidelines helps protect patient confidentiality while still implementing the benefits of AI.
Maintaining a Human Connection
While AI can automate various administrative tasks, doctors must continue to keep a human connection with their patients. AI should be seen as a tool to enhance productivity and efficiency, which allows doctors to spend more face-to-face time with patients and provide personalized care.
Like other industries, it’s only a matter of time before AI makes an enormous impact on the healthcare industry. In some ways, that has already begun. Using AI for patient scheduling, EHR management, and medical documentation can help doctors streamline their administrative tasks and dedicate more time to patient care. As the technology remains new and still unproven, there is still a need for doctors to take precautions with AI, including handling private material.
