⚕️Are Patients Ready for Gen AI in Healthcare?

Good Morning! As health systems focus on improving their IT infrastructure, a new trend is emerging: leaders with experience from EHR vendors are stepping into key roles.

Looks like the experts who wrote the book on EHR are now penning the next chapter in healthcare innovation!

DEEP DIVE
Patient Readiness For Gen AI in Healthcare

What is happening: US patients are surprisingly more comfortable with generative artificial intelligence (AI) analyzing their radiology scans and making diagnoses than with AI answering phone calls at their doctor's office.

Patient Readiness for Generative AI:

• Comfort Levels: About 48% of US consumers are comfortable with at least one generative AI application in healthcare. Patients show more comfort with generative AI supporting their doctors than interacting with it directly.

• Physician and Administrator Perspectives: Physicians and administrators recognize the potential of generative AI to reduce administrative burdens and clinician workloads. However, there are concerns that AI could undermine the patient-clinician relationship.

Areas where patients are most comfortable with Gen AI:

1. Takes notes during appointments to send follow-ups: 37%

2. Analyzes radiology scans and creates a report for the doctor: 31%

3. Analyzes radiology scans and makes diagnoses instead of a physician: 21%

4. Answers call center of health provider or insurer: 19%

5. Provides medical advice, treatment plans and prescriptions: 11%

Read the full findings from US Frontline of Healthcare survey here.

DEEP DIVE
Ultimate Breakdown: HL7 vs FHIR

Interoperability remains a key challenge plaguing healthcare organizations today.

• 71 percent physicians in the United States agree that the volume of patient data available to them was overwhelming.

• 23 percent of healthcare leaders surveyed reported that limited technology infrastructure was a major barrier they encounter around effective data utilization in their organization

The exchange of electronic health information is crucial for patient care and operational efficiency. Two key standards facilitating this are Health Level Seven (HL7) and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)

What is HL7 and FHIR:

• HL7 provides standards for electronic health information exchange, including HL7 v2, widely used for clinical and administrative data, and HL7 v3, which is more complex and less adopted.

• FHIR, also developed by HL7 International, uses modern web technologies like RESTful APIs, XML, JSON, and OAuth, making it easier to implement and more scalable.

FHIR simplifies integration by defining detailed clinical concepts, known as resources, and is preferred for new applications due to its simplicity and compatibility with current technologies, addressing many limitations of older HL7 versions.

Read the ultimate guide to understanding the difference between the two standards

PULSE POINTS
Latest Breakthroughs This Week

Here’s the most important breakthroughs and advancements we spotted in the healthcare technology space this week.

• Precision Cancer Treatment: Mayo Clinic has partnered with JelloX Biotech, a 3D imaging startup, to advance AI technology for precision cancer treatment. They aim to validate JelloX's 3D pathology imaging technology with AI for spatial analysis. The goal is to provide researchers and clinicians with more precise diagnostic tools and support pharmaceutical companies in developing personalized treatments.

• Interoperability: Epic Systems announced that individuals can now release their health data to apps of their choice, giving them more control over their medical information. Patients can import their records into health coaching or medication reminder apps using their Epic credentials.

• Digital Transformation: Johns Hopkins Health System in Baltimore has selected Workday to replace SAP as its enterprise resource planning system, with a go-live date of 2027. Workday was chosen for its focus on higher education and healthcare, and its integrated data and reporting capabilities. Data cleanup and process streamlining will begin in the fall.

• Ambient AI: Ochsner Health is installing DeepScribe's ambient AI technology across its 46 hospitals and 370+ care centers. The HealAI system converts patient conversations into clinical notes, benefiting over 4,700 physicians. Initial use shows a 75% clinician adoption rate and 96% of patients likely to recommend their providers.

• AI Powered Nurse Handoff: HCA Healthcare is using Google's AI-powered nurse-handoff note, which 89% of trial nurses found helpful. Tested at four hospitals, the AI improves clerical workflows. Additionally, HCA uses AI from Augmedix and Google to draft EHR notes for ED visits, with physicians reviewing and approving all AI-generated notes to ensure accuracy and further train the AI.

• HealthTech Funding: UPMC Enterprises and Tampa General Hospital Ventures have completed a strategic financing round for Medicom, a health tech startup focused on enterprise imaging interoperability. Medicom plans to use the new partnerships and capital to enhance platform innovation and accelerate its market efforts.

EXPERT SPOTLIGHT
Patrick Isaac: Dedicating Space For Rapid Prototyping 

This week, HealthTech Zen got in touch with Patrick Isaac, the Chief Technology Officer at accūrō Solutions with 20 years of experience  building technical teams, systems, and workflows for healthcare billing and claims processing. 

How do you foster a culture of innovation within your technology teams?

We prioritize brainstorming sessions, where team members from different disciplines come together to exchange ideas and spark creative solutions.  We believe that cross-functional interaction fuels fresh perspectives and unexpected connections.

Fostering a culture of exploration empowers developers to take the lead, diving deeper into these ideas and envisioning use cases specific to our organization's needs. Recognizing the importance of time and resources, we dedicate space for rapid prototyping, allowing developers to quickly experiment with new technologies and validate their feasibility.

Continue reading here

DECODER
What Are Different Types Of EMR Software?

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software comes in various types, each tailored to meet the specific needs of different healthcare settings and practices

EMR software types include standalone systems for specific specialties or general use, integrated systems for hospitals and practice management, and cloud-based systems for remote access. Other types are on-premises systems offering local control, open-source systems for customization, and mobile apps for on-the-go access.

Read the in-depth guide to types of EMR software here.