Artificial Intelligence Gaining Greater Acceptance in Health Care – Renal and Urology News

As advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) continue to revolutionize health care, data suggest growing acceptance of the technology by medical organizations and patients. Health care providers are spending heavily on IT and adopting new computer-generated tools, and a recent Cleveland Clinic national survey found that 3 in 5 Americans believe that AI will lead to better heart care.

Individuals are still cautious about how they use AI when it comes to their health. The Cleveland Clinic survey showed that 72% of individuals believe the health advice they receive from a computer chatbot is accurate, but 89% said they would still seek doctor’s advice before acting on chatbot recommendations. The online survey was conducted among 1000 people aged 18 years or older. Respondents were nationally representative regarding age, gender, region, education, household income, race/ethnicity, and urban/rural residency.

Most Americans using health monitoring technology are experiencing significant physical and mental benefits. According to survey responses, 79% have noticed positive changes to their physical or mental health. The survey found that 60% of Americans track their daily step count and 53% monitor their heart rate/pulse. It also showed that 40% track their burned calories, 32% track their blood pressure, and 53% say they began exercising more regularly after using wearable technology to monitor their health.

The survey showed that due to monitoring technology, 50% are getting in more steps per day and 34% are improving their eating habits. Further, 27% are more intentional about finding time to de-stress and relax.

Health care providers are spending heavily on IT, suggesting that technology is becoming a leading strategic priority for health care practices. In a survey of 201 health care provider executives in the United States conducted in June 2023 by Bain & Company and KLAS Research, 56% of respondents cited software and technology as among their top 3 strategic priorities compared with 34% in 2022.

The survey showed that 75% of respondents expect growth in software and technology spending to continue over the next 12 months. Revenue cycle management and clinical workflow optimization remain top areas of investment, according to the survey. However, patient engagement has moved up the list of priorities, particularly among more advanced or digitally mature providers.

E. Scot Davis, of Little Rock, Arkansas, a member of the LUGPA (Large Urology Group Practice Association) Board of Directors with nearly 30 years of experience in physician practice management, said the demand for urologic services is increasing while the supply of urologists available to treat patients is suboptimal. “Practices must find innovative ways to meet the needs of our patients,” he said. “Physicians and advanced practice providers can only see so many patient encounters in a day, and burnout among urologists is one of the highest of all specialties.”

The use of AI combined with emerging telephone technologies may offer solutions to ease this challenge. “Perhaps the number 1 complaint heard among my colleagues is the vast number of phone calls that need to be answered on a daily basis,” Davis said. “Practices might consider utilizing interactive voice recognition (IVR) software in conjunction with live operators to be able to meet the patients’ needs as well as reduce costs.” 

Urology practices must evaluate each touchpoint, from initial patient contact to clinic visit and culminating with billing and follow-up, and consider how AI and technology can help improve the patient experience and reduce costs, according to Davis. Many electronic medical record systems have “bolt-on” products to improve pre-authorization processes. The systems also have automatic coding software, integrated patient responses directly into the patient chart, and methods to improve the collections process.

“Urology practices must embrace and implement AI and technology,” Davis said. “Obviously, any technology that improves the overall patient experience is good for the patient and the practice. Additionally, there will be a positive financial impact to the practices adopting AI and technology, if implemented correctly and timely.” 

Emerging trends show technology is improving patient engagement through the use of IVR, triage software utilizing conversational chatbots, and self-scheduling tools for patient ease. From an administrative side, Davis said he foresees practices adopting more pre-authorization software technology combined with billing and coding applications to drop claims quicker with greater accuracy. 

“This feature will feed well into an interactive dictation tool for providers to document more easily and efficiently, he said. “All of this technology and AI adoption will require an acceptance and change by the providers who must first believe the software will work, and secondly, will trust it can do it as well as they can do it. Without those, much time and effort and money will be spent without any useful benefits.”