These days, it seems like Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. It is revolutionizing how we do just about everything in our lives – and that includes how we access healthcare services. If you’re covered by a health plan, you’ve likely seen your insurer’s website or app incorporate virtual assistants which help you to find doctors, estimate the cost of care, and schedule appointments.
What may be less obvious to the average consumer are the numerous applications of AI behind the scenes to improve healthcare delivery from quality, innovation, and efficiency perspectives. From applications in drug discovery, chronic disease management, diagnostics, medication management, and more, healthcare systems are only scratching the surface of AI’s potential.
So how does all of this translate into workers’ comp? What are some of the opportunities and pitfalls to consider, especially when considering the regulation of AI? We spoke with Sandy Shtab, Healthesystems VP of Industry and State Affairs, to gain her perspective.
How is AI being used in workers’ compensation healthcare?
In the realm of workers' compensation, AI programs can be utilized for many functions – from the physician’s office to the mailroom and all the way through to the claim file.
For example, when an injured worker requests a second opinion or an adjuster requests an Independent Medical Examination (IME), physicians often have to comb through years of treatment records, which is time consuming and can be frustrating if there are duplicate records or conflicting information. For physicians, today’s AI technologies can:
- Chronologically order a patient’s medical record
- Summarize and easily identify if there are inconsistencies in the records that may have been overlooked by the previous provider
Continue reading the article in full online at the Healthesystems blog.
