Better communication with patients? It's possible with AI

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Having an established, efficient healthcare system means having good and efficient communication with patients. However, when it comes to the world of healthcare, communication can always be improved and be better. Therefore, in this article, we are going to cover ways to get better communication with patients. With the constantly evolving technology as well as AI, it is possible to achieve more efficient communication. Let's take a look at exactly how this can be done.

Why communication improvements matter

To begin with, we should first focus on establishing the very importance of communication with patients. While it has evolved throughout the years, it is safe to say that due to various different developments in the past few years, as well as the global pandemic, healthcare systems over the world have realized that it is necessary to establish more accessible means of communication with their patients. The technology around us is developing at an incredible level and is offering new means of communication with patients. Healthcare systems around the world could greatly benefit, as well as their patients, from these new digital services and technologies.

It is safe to say that a lot of digital innovation has already been implemented in healthcare systems but there are always new services and new upgrades that can be applied for better communication. Patients are getting used to the effectiveness of online, digital communication and this transfers to healthcare systems as well. So, let us take a closer look at exactly how patients can benefit from using these various new digital services and platforms.

The use of conversational AI in communication with patients

AI has been implemented in various different spheres in our everyday life. However, it is also being implemented in healthcare systems as well. Why is this exactly groundbreaking and how does AI actually help improve communication with patients? For starters, it is important to explain what conversational AI really is.

Conversational AI, built around a natural language processing engine, in combination with software like chatbots, voice assistants, or an interactive voice recognition system, can greatly improve communication with patients. This kind of engine, built 100% to manage healthcare interactions, can improve the effectiveness and speed of communication with patients and make it easier for them to receive the necessary information from their healthcare services providers. While chatbots are not all that new and have been used for a longer period of time, it is important to note that although chatbots are powered by conversational AI, not all chatbots use conversational AI. As it stands in its name, this kind of AI is built with conversations in mind that need to be clear and completely natural. This kind of AI uses a natural language processing engine which means that it focuses on forming a conversation that is exactly like a human conversation, with all of the slang, different questions such as rhetoric questions, and so on.

How it all works

This kind of AI is better than regular chatbots as it allows for a completely natural conversation with patients. Furthermore, patients can ask all sorts of questions and not have limited answers like they would with regular chatbots. So, where can this kind of AI be implemented when it comes to healthcare? Whenever a patient needs to access healthcare services or get in touch with healthcare service providers, this kind of AI can be used through various digital platforms and services to communicate with patients. Conversational AI can be used to give patients all of the necessary information about their healthcare service providers including scheduling, rescheduling, shift information, and other information related to their healthcare journey.

How is this AI any different from call centers? Well, firstly, a natural language processing engine, used to communicate with patients through digital apps and services has the ability to function 24/7. This is something that call centers cannot achieve. Secondly, AI constantly learns and develops, but once it learns something it cannot forget it. Even if a mistake is made at the start, AI learns from it and cannot repeat it again. Therefore, the margin for error is much lower when compared to call centers which can have agents that are not professional, sometimes do not go through proper training, and overall do not have adequate answers for patients. Thirdly, communication with AI is instant and easily accessible. Patients can get all of this different information from the comfort of their own homes. Rapid responses can be delivered in a timely manner which is crucial for healthcare service providers and patients. Additionally, conversational AI can play an important role in educating patients through helpful prompts and probing questions. It can also be used as a tool for scheduling appointments.

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of using this kind of AI is its ability to approach each patient differently. As we have already mentioned, AI constantly learns and develops. AI has the ability to make conversations more personal and communicate with each patient differently. This makes for a more relaxing experience for patients who also build more trust this way. They do not get the feeling that they are simply talking with regular chatbots. Quite the contrary, patients will get the same feeling they get when they communicate with a real person. The information they get can be received through various digital channels and services such as WhatsApp, SMS, E-mail, etc. Of course, NLP allows machines to understand both voice input and texts.

Achieving better communication with patients? Definitely possible!

So, to sum up, since communication is crucial in healthcare, improving it can be beneficial both for healthcare service providers and of course, patients themselves. Through the usage of new, innovative technologies such as AI that uses NLP engines, healthcare service providers can establish a more efficient, constant, and faster communication with their patients. As you can see, the use of AI in healthcare is vast and only just getting started. With all of the different benefits it brings, AI makes for more trustworthy, faster, and more effective communication with patients regardless of the distance.