Unleashing the power of generative AI in health care

OUTLOOK | July 28, 2023

Authored by RSM US LLP

Many health care organizations are looking to generative artificial intelligence tools for their powerful potential to solve labor issues while enhancing the consumer-centered experience. Demand for health care services has outpaced the supply of labor, and health care cannot hire its way back to stability. Health care organizations are already embracing generative AI to deploy solutions like digital imaging, natural language processing, and disease modeling and prediction, and will seek additional options to provide optimal, consumer-centered care while improving razor-thin margins.

Rising demand for health care services

Demand for health care services has increased by 30% while labor has increased merely 1.65% when compared to 2019. Health expenditures are forecasted to reach $6.7 trillion by 2030, an increase of 49% from 2022’s $4.5 trillion.

The pandemic exacerbated labor issues, and by 2034, the demand for physicians is expected to outpace supply, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. To tighten that gap, organizations have looked to generative AI technologies like ChatGPT to save physicians’ time and improve the patient experience. Organizations today are utilizing these technologies in various facets of care delivery. Examples include:

• Medical documentation: Generative AI techniques, such as natural language processing, can automate medical documentation by extracting relevant information from patient records, generating summaries, and assisting in coding and billing processes. This automation reduces administrative burden and offers providers the opportunity to focus more on direct patient care.
• Medical imaging analysis: Generative AI models are enhancing the analysis of medical images, reducing the time and effort required of radiologists and other health care professionals while improving workflows and productivity.
• Virtual assistants and chatbots: These tools can handle routine inquiries, schedule appointments and provide basic medical advice around the clock, increasing patients’ access to information. The technology has the capacity to factor in staff availability, skill sets and workloads to generate an optimal schedule that navigates appointment cancellations and unplanned hospital admissions.

By leveraging generative AI technologies, health care organizations can automate repetitive tasks, improve decision making, optimize workflows and enhance labor management. This not only reduces the burden on health care professionals but also improves overall patient care and operational efficiency in the health care space.

Looking forward: With power comes responsibility

Each day, generative AI use cases build more momentum. However, organizations need to proceed with caution to ensure they understand the risk-reward trade-offs and how to navigate successful adoption. Organizations must ensure the technology complies with patient privacy standards and can defend against potential cyberattacks. To mitigate these risks, health care organizations should implement rigorous data governance practices, engage multidisciplinary teams to address ethical and interpretability concerns, maintain transparency, and ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of generative AI systems. Collaborating with regulatory bodies, legal experts and health care professionals can help in developing responsible and effective AI solutions.

The takeaway

The health care industry is known to be a slow adopter of innovation and change. However, organizations that deny these innovations will see their market share decrease and their patient experience fall short. Collaboration between an organization’s board and leaders, along with strong AI governance, will lead to successful adoption and implementation.