Today, technology is not just seen as a convenience but nearly a necessity. AI is gaining traction, as studies show that by 2028, AI will be safe for diagnosis, patient care, and medication suggestions. A study in 2021 showed that 4 in 10 patients with low health literacy had regular, accessible communication from their doctors, clearly showing a need for improved patient communication. Even though people are worried about AI’s safety, there are ways that doctors can incorporate AI to help with patient-doctor communication.
Automated patient education delivered directly to patients
Using AI for automatic patient communications can be a source of education for patients on critical issues and concerns that they may have. AI-powered tools are already sweeping the industry, offering personalized, digestible content that can be tailored to their needs. These automatic messages could serve as a means of engaging with patients and keeping them informed and connected, but patients must have the opportunity to opt in or opt out of these valuable communications.
Use natural language processing (NLP) for documentation
Natural language processing (NLP) is a form of AI that allows computers to understand language. In healthcare, this technology is infinitely valuable, offering opportunities for doctors to seamlessly update electronic health records (EHR), which patients can access. Not only can this be a source of trusted communication, but it can also help patients remain aware of their concerns, ensuring a stronger patient-doctor relationship.
Virtual health assistants available 24/7
Virtual health assistants can be a fantastic way to increase patient communication without overextending the practice’s hours and work. AI-driven assistants, like chatbots, can simulate conversations with people, monitor patients’ health, and even answer common messages regarding appointments or symptoms for common ailments. This increases the accessibility many patients have to doctors and improves patient communication and trust.
Receive patient feedback and conduct sentiment analysis
Sentiment analysis has been a part of the industry for many years, but few physicians have leveraged this tool’s value. This can measure patient opinions and deliver nearly automatic information to doctors on improving the quality of their care. It can also tell doctors more about how to help specific patients, which could further enhance the delivery of specialized patient care in the practice.
Personalized communication plans for each patient
One of the challenges physicians face with patient communication is personalizing care to every patient, but with AI, physicians can shift their attention to personalized care instead of transactional tasks. Leveraging AI can be a game changer for many doctors who want to improve patient care and communication, enhancing the overall satisfaction of every patient. When appropriately implemented, AI has astronomically beneficial potential that doctors should see as a means of improving their overall care delivery and communication.
Use technology to support your patient relationships
While seemingly irrelevant to medicine, AI has several benefits that doctors should capitalize on. Improving patient communication with AI can lead to automated patient education, streamlined patient documentation, improved care delivery due to feedback, and even personalized communication that will benefit patients and their health goals more. In the future, if you implement and integrate AI into your existing practice, your patient communication—and care—can improve significantly, leading to the continued success of your practice.
