Solving Healthcare’s Human Problem: Combining AI-Led Analytical Thinking With Compassion - Corwin N. Harper, MHA, FACHE
As a fervent advocate for human-centric healthcare, it’s distressing to witness the burnout among these dedicated professionals, compounded by the administrative burdens that seem to be detracting from their true calling: caring for patients. I recently read an article published by Forbes, Solving Healthcare’s Human Problem: Combining AI-Led Analytical Thinking With Compassion by Rohan D’Souza and it resonated deeply with my concerns about the well-being of healthcare workers, especially after being the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Part of the problem is that people who have dedicated their lives to helping others are being asked to do more administrative work.”
The reality is that healthcare workers are feeling increasingly overwhelmed, and the pandemic has amplified these challenges. Surveys revealing rising anxiety and depression among healthcare workers, with many contemplating leaving the profession, are alarming not only for the patients but also for an industry grappling with labor shortages.
A significant part of this crisis lies in the administrative demands being placed on healthcare workers. It’s disheartening to see those who have dedicated their lives to helping others now bogged down by administrative tasks. A recent survey mentioned in the article indicates that 92% of clinicians believe that excessive administrative work is a major contributor to burnout.
“Health IT still has work to do to make the practice of medicine easier for physicians and other healthcare professionals. So where do we go from here?”
Health information technologies, such as electronic health records (EHRs), were intended to revolutionize patient care, replacing cumbersome paper-based processes. Unfortunately, EHRs have often become a source of frustration, contributing to increased administrative burdens. The challenges they bring, including documentation overload, unfavorable workflow changes, and input errors, further strain our healthcare professionals.
“Healthcare executives recognize the opportunity for automation and other artificial intelligence-enabled advancements to reduce administrative burden.”
However, this isn’t a call to abandon technology; rather, it’s a plea for the thoughtful integration of technology with the human touch. It’s about prioritizing empathy and designing technology solutions that empower healthcare workers rather than burden them. To achieve this, we need to involve frontline workers in the development of these technologies, ensuring that they truly align with the needs and realities of healthcare professionals.
The article highlights the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing some of these challenges. AI has the potential to handle complex tasks, such as analyzing vast amounts of data and identifying patterns. Yet, it’s essential to strike a balance between optimization and the human element. We can leverage AI to streamline tasks like updating EHRs while a physician focuses on patient care, thereby alleviating the burden of data entry.
I am encouraged by the call to balance automation and the human touch. This balance is crucial to healthcare’s future. Our healthcare executives face a challenging task in determining which processes to automate to achieve the highest return on investment without compromising the quality of care.
“All jobs are vulnerable to some degree to automation. But healthcare is built on compassion, a human trait AI can’t replicate. We can’t teach a robot to love and show empathy and compassion, but we can teach it to update the EHR while a physician examines a patient to alleviate the tiresome task of data entry.”
The article introduces a compelling framework by Kai-Fu Lee, suggesting a matrix approach to AI adoption that emphasizes both optimization and compassion. This approach aligns with my belief that we must categorize healthcare activities, leveraging AI for administrative efficiencies where possible while ensuring that clinical workflows remain rooted in the warmth and compassion that only humans can provide.
In conclusion, the future of healthcare lies in a thoughtful integration of technology, a reimagining of work processes, and a renewed commitment to compassionate care. As our population ages and healthcare needs expand, this transformation is not just a desire; it’s an imperative. We must act collaboratively to ensure that healthcare remains a field of compassion and dedication, both for the patients and the dedicated professionals who tirelessly serve them.
Connect with Corwin on LinkedIn.
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About Corwin: An empathetic and authentic leader who champions improving humanity through healthcare, Corwin Harper has contributed over 35 years of experience in various areas, from healthcare systems to fiduciary and governance to economic development. Corwin’s strengths include analyzing and assessing situations to create multi-year strategy plans, and he has the vision to identify new business opportunities where others fail to see the potential. Through his innovation as a transformational healthcare leader, he aims at creating a more human world with a strong focus on social and educational equity to improve humanity for all.
