With pressure increasing on healthcare systems worldwide and many countries still struggling to clear backlogs caused by the pandemic, Microsoft believes AI is key to tackling both administrative burdens and improving the experience between doctors and patients.
A new survey of 13,500 patients from 11 countries, including 2,000 from Britain, shows that patients are willing to let AI do some of the work of their doctors to free up more interpersonal time. This is seen as a natural progression of existing digitalization efforts. .
Currently, two in five (39%) UK respondents are concerned that their doctor is not giving them full attention during treatment, thanks to the computer-based administrative work associated with consultations.
AI is a game changer for healthcare
From the patient’s perspective, artificial intelligence is simply an extension of existing systems. Half of British participants in Microsoft’s survey already have access to private or health insurer-provided online platforms where documents and prescriptions are shared.
For the doctor, an injection of AI means a significant time saving; the extra hours a physician typically spends handling medical documentation has fueled widespread dissatisfaction and burnout at work.
Dr. Simon Wallace, Chief Clinical Information Office at Microsoft Health and Life Sciences UK, highlighted the significant impact AI could have on patient care: “The role of digital technology is to support the practitioner to return to the art of practice of medicine and giving back time for both patients and their personal well-being.”
Mr. Markus Vogel, Chief Medical Information Officer of Microsoft, commented on the role of AI in personalizing healthcare for patients: “With automated processes and patient-driven chatbots providing assistance, AI is becoming a catalyst for improved participation, language translation and personalized treatment modalities.”
With the continued emphasis on safe and responsible AI, Microsoft is calling for education, training and communication about the benefits, impact and even risks of artificial intelligence in healthcare. It has also become clear that international and multi-sectoral cooperation plays an important role in ensuring that communities are served.
Looking ahead, it’s clear that time-saving technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation are playing a crucial role in how countries tackle some of the most pressing social problems, and Microsoft’s findings regarding public sentiment around the technology provide a pretty positive outlook.
In terms of challenges, industry experts have expressed concern that practitioners may be reluctant to adapt to yet another new technology.
Speaking about the doctor-led nature of NHS England, Helen Crowther, Chief Nurse of National Digital Primary Care, confirmed: “If you give us a new product and tell us it will transform and change our lives for ourselves, colleagues and patients, we we are happy to adapt to it.”
As healthcare and artificial intelligence become increasingly intertwined, Crowther noted the importance of engaging nurses at all levels of the digital transformation to ensure they are clinically focused from concept on.
This sentiment fits with the broader feeling that collaboration in all aspects of technology can only be beneficial, both for the customer and for the competition.