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Years after the first Covid-19 case was reported in the U.S., the health care industry continues to feel the impact. Hospitals and health systems have been on the front lines of the pandemic since day one and are still battling shortages of skilled clinicians, overworked staff and financial losses. A report for February 2022 American Academy of Healthcare Administrators Labor shortages found to be #1 top concern for community hospital CEOs, patient safety group’s 2022 report ECRI List staffing shortages as one of the biggest risks to patient safety.
For hospital and health system managers looking to recruit more clinical staff and retain existing staff, they need to adopt and implement modern technologies designed to minimize workload and allow medical professionals to focus on patient care.
The future of artificial intelligence in healthcare
The healthcare industry has begun to embrace technology to help address staffing tensions. This was most evident during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when people are understaffed and the virus is rampant, hospitals and health systems are turning to technology — from using telemedicine to reach patients, to using UV-emitting robots to quickly wipe out microbes found in wards, public restrooms and operating rooms.
AI has become a common feature of many healthcare technologies, but AI still enjoys a negative reputation among many in the industry. This may be due to the hesitancy of some medical professionals who fear it will take their jobs.recent Medical Landscape Survey The majority of 1,500 physicians were found to be anxious or uncomfortable with AI, and nearly a third believed their roles could be threatened by AI software.
While AI will never replace doctors, the technology has been shown to complement and enhance doctors’ expertise. The same Medscape survey found that a majority of doctors (70%) said AI software would help make more accurate decisions, and 66% said it would be better than humans at some diagnostic tasks , they might consider using artificial intelligence software. There is no doubt that AI provides value to the industry by helping clinicians perform many duties faster and more accurately, ultimately helping to improve the quality of care. In addition, some technology-driven or robotic-assisted devices are made so that laboratory technicians can use them, allowing more patients to benefit from robot-guided assessment and the resulting diagnostic benefits.
Robotics and Automation
With the erratic surge in Covid-19 variants, healthcare professionals are overworked, exhausted and leaving the industry in droves.according to a Medical Landscape Researchthe physician burnout rate in 2020 is 42%, WHO An estimated shortfall of 18 million health workers is expected by 2030.
Advanced technologies such as AI-guided robotics and automation offer potential solutions to supplier shortages by freeing healthcare professionals from repetitive and time-consuming tasks and allowing clinicians to focus on tasks that require professional contact. Robotics has been used in every aspect of healthcare, from performing administrative tasks to assisting in surgeries to disinfecting patient rooms. also, A study found During a pandemic, the use of robotic-assisted ultrasound systems can isolate the distance between the patient and the sonographer, thereby reducing the risk of transmission. Robots have been an integral part of the healthcare industry for years and will continue to help enhance patient care for a long time to come.
Innovations in Ultrasound
In recent years, ultrasound technology has made rapid progress in addressing the vulnerability of operator dependence and mobility. From innovations like Wi-Fi enabled devices to portable ultrasound devices that can be used at the bedside or in the operating room, ultrasound innovations provide better patient access. In addition, AI-powered ultrasound devices help reduce the burden on medical professionals performing exams and increase efficiency by guiding each patient on placement or location. This has a positive impact on the healthcare industry as it provides facilities with the opportunity to view and scan more patients with confidence.
One technology that combines artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation is autonomous robotic ultrasound. Although transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound is one of the most valuable tools for monitoring cerebral circulation, TCD is rarely used by clinicians because it is highly operator-dependent and the handheld technique requires lengthy training and expertise. A skilled sonographer must focus on finding the patient’s transtemporal window and detecting the appropriate vessel based on its location, angle, and depth. For handheld devices, this takes time, experience and expertise. Therefore, the use of TCD is limited.
recent clinical trial data The paper, presented at the International Stroke Conference, compared clinicians’ use of robotic-assisted TCDs with non-robotic techniques, and found that clinicians using robotic TCDs were three times more likely to identify serious cardiac problems that completely missed the standard of care imaging. Regardless of the diagnostic tool used, the use of technology should not be limited by a lack of skilled professionals who understand how to best use it. With the combination of artificial intelligence and automation, autonomous robotic-assisted TCDs can be used as a sophisticated diagnostic tool that more healthcare professionals can use without rigorous training.
Robotics, artificial intelligence and automation will continue to grow in healthcare in the coming years. Leveraging these technologies can help the industry improve patient care and increase operational efficiency.
Photo: rudall30, Getty Images
