The rapid evolution of “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) capabilities has outpaced many industries, including healthcare. While its potential is immense, there are still significant gaps in understanding among healthcare managers.
Here are 5 things that healthcare managers should know about AI:
1. AI is much more than computers trying to emulate human consciousness
Many people equate AI with machine learning to create sentient computers. Of course, this is what the media chooses to write about but it overlooks the much broader workhorse applications of what AI is already doing in industry.
AI is broadly used to standardize and process large quantities of data that would take unreasonable human hours to process. Because the computer can “learn” (aka be “trained”), it processes the nuances of context problems “if this, this and this, then that”. Industries like healthcare need to pay trained human beings to input data and to process complex discernment but with increased ability to maintain privacy during AI processing the possibilities are endless.
Ecouton uses AI known as natural language processing (NLP), large language model (LLM), and prompt engineering to process feedback from families and patients for a fraction of the cost that it would take a human FTE.
2. Data Quality is paramount
AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on.
Many AI companies today want Healthcare clients for their data to train on. Healthcare companies are still being drawn into contracts for promised functionality, but the results are slow, requires integration, and large starting investments in time and/or staff time.
Ecouton’s AI services model is already trained and doesn’t rely on your data to train it. The model is ready to go from your first surveys and there is no contract.
3. Ethical implications are complex, especially in healthcare
AI raises ethical questions around privacy, bias, job displacement, and decision-making autonomy. AI models are often built on unintentionally biased data and the implementation of AI workflows are open to contextual problems that perpetuate biases and unequitable practices, leading to discriminatory outcomes. Unlike many other industries, healthcare managers can’t afford to take an “ask forgiveness, not permission” attitude with AI and patient care.
While AI can automate tasks and provide insights, it's definitely not a solution for every problem in healthcare. Human expertise remains crucial especially when we are dealing with the nuances of human care.
Ecouton’s real-time feedback application of AI doesn’t take the decision making completely out of human hands and is not intended to take anyone’s job. The real-time feedback tool is intentionally designed to take an essential administration function, often deprioritized when staffing gets tight, and make quality decision making information available to the right people at the right time.
4. AI requires specialized talent
Implementing AI correctly requires skill and expertise in data science, NLP, LLM, AI ethics, and data privacy. Healthcare agencies must either hire internally or make sure that the AI companies they do business with have the experience to help guide them to apply AI ethically within the healthcare continuum.
AI is a rapidly evolving field and the application of AI to meet the regulations of HITECH and HIPPA is still evolving. Many non-healthcare AI companies struggle with all of the regulation required when handling PHI (protected healthcare information) and managers don’t have the luxury of keeping up with.
Ecouton is not just a software company; it's a healthcare partner that wants to help make you successful by being your AI experts. When you trust your service to Ecouton you are not just “buying software”, but healthcare expertise, regular reviews, consulting services, data visualization, and ongoing personalized support to help drive your business objectives.
5. AI will revolutionize healthcare
Beyond clinical applications, AI is projected to transform healthcare administration, population health management, medical research, and even healthcare education. Healthcare is a constant series of contextual small decisions that need to be made. AI is perfect to automate and make these systems fast, smooth, and less-expensive. We are just at the beginning.
If you’re not planning your AI strategy yet, you’re going to be outdated quickly.
Ecouton real-time patient and family feedback is a quick, ethical, and cost effective way to get benefits from AI working for your agency..