To achieve value from these initiatives, it’s paramount to move beyond transacting or moving data from one system to another to making sense of that data. For example, reliable person identity data achieved through an enterprise master person index (EMPI) is crucial for current events such as the upcoming PHE expiration and Medicaid expansion in states like South Dakota. An EMPI reduces risk inherent in aggregating records between public health agencies and their healthcare delivery organization trading partners. Being able to normalize code sets not only improves outcomes but alleviates billing headaches down the road.
- Drew Ivan, Chief Strategy Officer at Lyniate
No matter how you slice and dice intel from healthcare analysts, one message comes through loud and clear: providers need more and better digital tools to automate workflow processes. They look to compensate for labor shortages, tight margins and care backlogs – not to mention escalating patient demand to make healthcare more consumer-friendly. 2022 Gartner research, in fact, noted that digital technology initiatives and workforce optimization are the top two priorities for healthcare leaders through 2024 (“Top Tech Trend: Total Experience for Healthcare Providers”).
Technology solutions that will top their shopping list are likely to include next-generation “digital front doors” to help patients find information, connect with the right provider in the right care setting, schedule appointments and procedures, and prepare for those encounters. In short, patients are looking for a “Google-esque” experience so interactions with the healthcare system are easier. While patient-initiated interactions (like self-scheduling) will benefit from digitization, automation of provider-initiated outreach will be important, too. Call centers and clinical staff are stretched to the breaking point. Digital outreach solutions that integrate with existing systems of records like EMRs and CRMs help streamline activities such as preventive service reminders, care instructions and post-procedure status checks. Plus, best-of-breed solutions are built with conversational AI and natural language understanding to ensure interactions remain personal, a well-established hallmark of healthcare.
- Patty Riskind, CEO, Orbita
Here in the US and likely everywhere, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has exposed deep foundational cracks in our healthcare infrastructure. As three years of deferred care comes to a crashing crest, hospitals across the country are overflowing, understaffed, and staring down the barrel of a winter with white caps of influenza and RSV already breaking on battered medical shores.
While we face unprecedented challenges, we also have unprecedented resources at our disposal. Never before have tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, backed by computational power unrivaled in human history, been a part of our arsenal. Our potential as a species to re-write the rules of infection prevention, public health and healthcare response is incredible and only time will tell if we can rise to the challenge.
- Paritosh Prasad, MD, director of Global Health at VisualDx
