AI Agents in Healthcare: Transforming Patient Care & Operations

Healthcare organizations are increasingly turning to agentic artificial intelligence to streamline operations ​and enhance patient care. This advanced form⁢ of AI doesn’t just respond to⁣ prompts; ⁤it independently sets goals and takes ​actions to achieve them, offering ​a new​ level of automation ⁤and efficiency. I’ve found that this approach is especially impactful in areas where administrative burdens‌ hinder clinicians’ ability to focus on‌ patients.

The core difference lies in the reasoning layer.Traditional AI systems execute pre-programmed tasks, while‍ agentic AI can analyze ‌situations, devise strategies, and adapt its approach ⁢- much like⁢ a human​ agent. This capability allows for the ‌creation of complex⁢ workflows that address multifaceted challenges within healthcare.

Hackensack Meridian health, a leading provider in New Jersey, is actively ​implementing agentic AI ‌to automate tasks that frequently enough ⁢fall outside the consistent scope ‌of clinicians’ responsibilities.Their strategy, termed “automation plus” by​ Senior Vice President⁤ and Chief AI Officer Sameer Sethi, ​focuses ‍on addressing unmet needs and expanding overall capacity.

A prime example is post-discharge patient follow-up.Timely⁣ contact after a hospital stay is crucial for preventing readmissions, but it’s ⁢a‌ process ​that can easily be overlooked. To address this, the association developed an AI agent​ named Erin. Erin​ proactively checks in ⁤wiht patients, inquiring about their well-being, confirming‌ scheduled appointments, verifying medication adherence, and identifying any immediate concerns.

“If a patient‌ expresses a need​ for immediate assistance, the conversation is seamlessly transferred to a human caregiver,” Sethi explains. ‌The system then meticulously ‍transcribes and summarizes the interaction,highlights key concerns,and ensures a clinician reviews each case for appropriate follow-up.

Another agent is dedicated to simplifying the often-complex ⁤ claims appeals ⁢process, traditionally a