4 Ways AI Can Help Strengthen Provider-Patient Relationships
Reinforce the human connection instead of replacing it
Establishing a strong interpersonal connection helps people feel seen, heard, and respected. However, with new AI technologies quickly spreading in the medical field, you may be concerned about AI replacing that connection in the name of time savings. But saving time and making a genuine, caring connection don’t have to be mutually exclusive. What if you could use AI to build trust with your patients?
The key is learning how patients want to use the technology in the first place. In the “AI at the Doctor’s Office Report,” a sample of 2,000 patients revealed their comfort levels with AI technology in a medical practice. Want to know how you can meet your patients’ expectations? Here are four ways AI can help.
1. Give them more face time
Multitasking is a necessity for physicians who must document for compliance while simultaneously conducting an exam. But we know that patients prefer it when they feel a provider is focused on them. In fact, 57% of patients surveyed prefer AI in the doctor’s office if it means their experience includes more quality time with their doctor. The solution is to use AI to shift the focus back to your patient.
An AI medical scribe can help accomplish this goal. It can listen as you speak with your patient and suggest visit note content that reflects how real clinical conversations flow, even with interruptions and deviations. You save time on documentation, and your patient gets more face time with you in the exam room.
2. Improve speed and accuracy
What if you could provide faster, more accurate care in a fraction of the time? That would mean benefits for your practice and staff, as well as your patients. In fact, we found that 60% of patients surveyed prefer AI in the doctor’s office if it leads to better care. There are a number of ways that AI is capable of helping providers improve care accuracy and speed. For example, AI could identify patterns and risk factors associated with different diseases and assist with vital sign monitoring. AI could also function as a virtual assistant, helping patients connect to the correct provider, providing basic information, and answering common questions.
3. Handle the little things
There are certain tasks that people just don’t want to handle themselves, whether they’re a patient or a staff member. As it turns out, combing through calendars and making it to appointments on time are two items where people on both sides of the desk would like a little help. When asked which AI tools they would be most comfortable having their doctor’s office use, 41% of patients surveyed said AI that helps with scheduling appointments and sending reminders.
Fortunately, technology is advancing to make scheduling initial and follow-up appointments seamless. Self-scheduling tools allow patients to view availability and request or reschedule appointments on their own time, cutting down on phone calls, saving time for your staff, and empowering patients.
Additionally, 33% of patients surveyed said they would be most comfortable with AI supporting patient check-in. There are hospitals already testing applications of AI to reduce wait times, with promising results. One urgent care center reported a wait time reduction of 12 minutes after applying AI automation.
4. Smooth out prescription refills
The connection between patient, pharmacy, and provider should be seamless so patients can obtain necessary medications on time. But sometimes reality doesn’t match up, and when it doesn’t, patients are more than willing to accept a little help. Of patients surveyed, 25% identified AI assisting with prescription refills as the AI tool they would be most comfortable with in the doctor’s office. For providers who struggle with message and call volumes about prescriptions, AI technology could help triage refill requests. AI-powered message routing can help inbound patient refill requests get to the right staff member the first time, bypassing clogged phone queues and helping improve response times.
Conclusion
By considering how patients want to interact with AI technology, you can unlock operational efficiencies in your practice while respecting their comfort levels and providing them with more rewarding care experiences.
Get the full “AI at the Doctor’s Office Report” to learn more about patient perceptions of AI and discover practical applications for your practice.
Download the full report.
This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult with your legal counsel and other qualified advisors to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards.
