Rather than flooding physicians with more and more data, we need to deliver them high-value and actionable information within existing workflows in a format that enhances clinical decision-making for each patient encounter. As we work to improve interoperability between disparate systems, let’s not overlook the need to empower the physician by improving the identification, interpretation and organization of complex arrays of medical information from multiple sources.

Fixing flawed interoperability efforts with AI solutions
I’m excited about the potential for AI in healthcare – but believe our focus should be on creating solutions that help physicians do their jobs better and not simply tell clinicians what they already know.

For example, physicians don’t need a bunch of algorithms to help them diagnose and treat every patient. An experienced physician can quickly diagnose a patient’s condition and recommend an appropriate therapy in less time than it takes to enter all the patient’s symptoms in the computer.

And while AI-based solutions such as voice recognition might help reduce the time required to document an encounter, a clinician may end up spending more time wading through pages of transcription next time he or she is trying to find critical patient information at the point of care.

Physicians don’t need AI technologies that disrupt their workflows or make them less productive. Instead, they need solutions that fix what is broken in healthcare. Interoperability efforts are growing, and providers are sharing more and more clinical data, fueling a greater need for AI-based filtering solutions that transform data into clean, usable information.

To effectively manage data and drive improvements in patient care, we must empower physicians with streamlined clinical workflows that provide real time access to patient- and problem-specific information.

As we move into 2020, we’ll see more interoperability initiatives and more data sharing. As we continue to explore the potential of AI, we need to develop more AI-based solutions that improve interoperability, enhance the value of shared information and make data more usable.

If we can successfully deliver impactful AI-based solutions that advance interoperability, we can drive greater physician productivity, improve clinical decision-making, and give clinicians more time for direct patient care.


About the author: David Lareau is CEO of Medicomp Systems, a provider of physician-driven point-of care solutions that fix EHRs.

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