In a world where AI is no longer a work of fiction, it has marked its way into every field of life. Healthcare isn’t out of their league, either. The complex tasks that were once associated with human intelligence and expertise are only now precisely done by machines. 

This has enabled AI-assisted diagnosis, treatment plans, and decision-making, which translates to reduced human error. However, one benefit that often doesn’t get the limelight is how AI can enhance the doctor-patient relationship.

In this article, we’ll touch on some aspects of the use of AI in healthcare to enhance patient engagement and adherence.

Bridging the Gap Between Doctors and Patients Using AI

Informed patients are empowered patients. AI facilitates this empowerment by acting as a knowledgeable companion, ensuring that the patients actively participate in their healthcare journey. 

Patient Education

In a doctor-patient relationship, the knowledge lies on the doctor’s side, while the patients, in most cases, don’t have a scientific background. Their sources are commonly random internet sources, friends, and the like – these aren’t always scientifically accurate or approved by experts.

This creates a major communication gap. The best way to bridge this gap is to increase the patient’s understanding of disease symptoms, prognosis, and treatment options. And this is where AI comes into play, especially Generative AI. 

These AI models can undergo training, allowing them to verify claims and translate scientific information into layman’s terms. Patients can utilize them to comprehend their symptoms, as well as doctors' assessments, reports, prognosis, and more. AI facilitates both pre-consultation learning and post-consultation patient understanding.

On the other side, clinicians can use suggestions from AI for diagnosis and treatment options and expand the knowledge base. It can be especially useful for community medicine.

Periodic Monitoring

Besides education, another important aspect is periodic monitoring like blood pressure/heart rate monitoring or blood glucose level monitoring in chronic patients. This requires both a laboratory test and a visit to a clinician so the clinician can explain the test results and address them. 

In such cases, wearable monitors, utilizing the power of AI, can minimize the number of visits to the lab and clinicians. These AI-based monitors can assess if there’s a need to visit the clinician for a change of treatment plan, and at the same time, they can directly share the report with the clinician. 1

As a result, the number of visits to clinicians is fewer and more productive, ultimately improving the patient-doctor relationship. 

Reporting and Documentation 

Another important aspect of the patient-doctor relationship is the reporting and integration of patient data. Interestingly, there are AI models that analyze patient data, radiographs, and previous reports to assist in diagnosis. 

After clinical assessment, these AI tools generate automated reports. The reports are accessible to patients and transferable to other doctors as per the patient’s request. 

This kind of reporting will revolutionize the world of medicine, where patients not only have more confidence in diagnosis and treatment but also have the power to have multiple expert opinions on the same report.

Conclusion: Embrace the Future of Healthcare With SWC

Integrating AI in healthcare isn’t just a technological advancement; it’s a gateway to a more personalized, patient-centric approach where patients have more trust in you.

As you envision your practice's future, consider exploring SWC’s product offerings. Embrace the power of AI and revolutionize your approach to patient care.