Reference no: EM133718867
Case: Healthcare settings have used natural language processing for voice translations for several years, which led to removing the voice dictation person out of the documentation equation. "Dictation" requires a clinician to speak into a recording device and then send the recordings to a person to listen to the dictation and type out what the clinician stated. With tools like Dragon Medical, voice-activated processing, the interpretation occurs through software. There is no longer a need for a translator because the software can complete that activity in real-time. The clinician can simply speak into a microphone and do their own documentation directly into the patient's chart.
Recent innovations with Smart Speaker technology such as Amazon's Alexa, Google Nest, or the Apple Home Pod have allowed for early adopters to utilize smart patient room technology. This type of technology could utilize natural language and medical terminology to listen to the clinician while they talk to the patient and document through structured data within the patient chart all while focusing their attention on the patient. Information such as diagnostic codes and recommendations or suggestions to assist the clinician can improve patient care while being able to speak and more importantly listen. Even further, this smart technology could be linked to Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms such as IBM's Watson or other early adopters in this technology to review lab work, assess, and provide recommendations to the doctor for improved patient outcomes based on data.
Many doctors worry about AI and replacing their decision-making processes, but as technology advances, they may need to adapt. Will we ever be able to replace the doctor or the clinical visit? Maybe not just yet, but we can pull data and compare results " instantaneously among millions of data sets to improve the outcomes of complex patient illnesses to assist the clinician in the diagnosis and recommended care.
A dilemma in healthcare settings is the protected data of each patient. With the introduction to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and protecting Personal Health Information (PHI), having an internet-connected device in the room listening to our intimate conversations with our doctor may not give us a sense of privacy.
Amazon has gained HIPAA compliance with Alexa to develop a new platform called mHealth (mobile health). Some organizations provide an Amazon Alexa device and send the device home with patients after surgery to allow real-time interaction with the patient's care team. Improved outcomes and patients completing the requirements after surgery are what drives healthcare. If we do not provide exceptional care and the patient returns, chances are the healthcare system will not be reimbursed for those returning inpatient stays, costing them thousands of dollars. Finding better ways to improve access to smart devices like speakers, heart monitoring, blood glucose, and EKGs can improve outcomes or inform the patient when additional care is needed. The Internet of Things pulls this into a connected patient tying them into the advanced processing power of artificial intelligence and clinician two-way analysis in real-time.
In this project report, you are the decision-maker to roll out a new voice assistant to each of your hospital patient rooms. Not only are these devices designed to help the doctors with documentation, but these devices will also provide entertainment to the patient with smart assist technology. Before answering the questions below, watch this
Question 1: Healthcare organizations have intellectual assets to protect. How do you present to board the need to utilize smart room technology?
Question 2: How do you present the transition to voice-assisted technology for diagnostics?