Question: Like many healthcare practices, there are times when we see more patients than usual, which can result in the staff becoming overwhelmed and the patients getting irritated at long wait times. Could artificial intelligence (AI) help our staff out when we’re experiencing higher-than-normal patient loads?
South Dakota Subscriber
Answer: Absolutely! AI is a great tool to add to your healthcare organization to ease the burden on your staff. In fact, researchers recently published their findings of a peer-reviewed study in Cureus regarding the use of AI-powered chatbots when diagnosing, treating, monitoring, and supporting patients. According to the study, the findings “underscore the substantial promise of chatbots in enhancing healthcare delivery and reveal areas that need further exploration.”
The technology possesses a significant capability to help make more accurate diagnoses, aid clinicians, and boost patients’ adherence to treatment plans. Currently, chatbots are used in various capacities in healthcare, including scheduling patients, triaging, analyzing the patient’s symptoms, and offering therapeutic support.
Researchers found that the AI-powered chatbots help medical professional staff manage high patient volumes by delivering key information in a timely manner and supporting chronic disease management. At the same time, the chatbots can be scaled to meet the needs of the organization without having to add (or release) staff.
The tools allow the organization’s staff to focus on pleasant in-person interactions at the front desk and better patient encounters with the medical professionals. As a result, the patients leave happier and more likely to return for their healthcare.
Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC
