By Ron Holder
A recent MGMA Stat Poll found that 80% of medical group leaders believe Artificial Intelligence (AI) will become an essential skill to excel in the healthcare industry. AI has already propelled the industry forward, reshaping the way we diagnose, treat and communicate with patients. However, these advancements are only the beginning of the possibilities to come.
While many medical leaders believe in the potential of AI, the tool has yet to be fully adopted into the industry due to limited resources— time and staffing shortages. In fact,
MGMA data found that only 21% of medical practices have added or expanded their use of AI tools in 2023, while 74% are still on the sidelines and another 5% reported they were unsure.
To stay ahead in this rapidly evolving industry, medical leaders must embrace AI as a tool to maximize the efficiency of medical professionals and reduce the costs of care. AI will continue to change the way that the world operates and the healthcare industry is no exception; here's what you should know about leveraging AI in your health system.
Implementing AI in health systems
Given the high costs and busy schedules of medical providers, it is imperative for healthcare leaders to optimize their time. Ultimately, sacrificing medical providers' time to work below their licensure or spend time on laborious tasks outside of patient-centered care is detrimental to any healthcare enterprise. Through the introduction of AI technology, medical practices can streamline tasks and maximize healthcare workers’ availability, leading to better patient outcomes and improved bottom lines for organizations. AI technology has started to create solutions to this problem, with the ability to answer routine patient questions, receive client information, create documentation and support billing processes.
Upcoming healthcare transformations
As AI enhances the effectiveness of existing staff across the healthcare industry, it will eventually reduce the number of staff required. That’s not to say that there are going to be wholesale position eliminations, but rather AI will be able to extend the effectiveness and productivity of existing staff across all aspects of healthcare. Billers will be able to touch and process claims more quickly and physicians will spend more time on clinical judgment tasks instead of working to get paid by insurers or documenting patient encounters. Human resource departments will even be able to automate employee screenings and easily ensure policies and procedures are up-to-date with national and local regulations.
