Unveiling Hidden Risk: How AI is Transforming Patient Care and Prioritization
Harnessing the Power of Data to Improve Elective Surgery Outcomes and Minimize Waiting List Challenges
I found the recent article "Why hospitals and ICBs are seeking intelligence" to be a thought-provoking insight into the challenges faced by healthcare providers in managing their elective surgery waiting lists. The article highlights the critical need for healthcare providers to adopt innovative technologies and data-driven strategies to optimise resources and provide timely care to patients in need.
In the face of the peri-pandemic challenges, healthcare providers are trying to address the growing backlog of elective surgeries. However, the current system of prioritising patients based on their waiting time is inefficient and inadequate. As Dr Mark Ratnarajah, an NHS paediatrician and UK managing director of C2-Ai, points out, patients become increasingly unwell as they wait longer, resulting in more complex cases and a heightened risk of complications.
To tackle this challenge, healthcare providers seek more granular data and intelligence to understand better the needs and risks of patients on waiting lists. This includes identifying patients who have deteriorated or are at risk of worsening and targeting interventions for those most in need. This risk-stratification approach aims to optimise patient care ahead of surgery and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of surgical procedures.
The article presents several examples of healthcare providers utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to stratify patients, significantly improving patient outcomes and resource utilisation. For instance, one NHS England-funded initiative has saved thousands of hours using an AI-based model to stratify hundreds of thousands of patients weekly. The project has resulted in substantial reductions in emergency admissions, a 27% reduction in long-waiters and highest urgency patients. It has freed up at least 125 bed days per 1,000 patients on waiting lists.
Furthermore, targeted prehabilitation programs driven by AI-generated intelligence have proven effective in preventing patient deterioration and preparing them for surgery. This approach empowers patients and leads to measurable improvements in patient outcomes, including reduced length of hospital stay and increased day-case discharges.
In my opinion, the article highlights a crucial shift in the healthcare landscape – the need to harness the power of technology and data to improve patient care and outcomes. The potential of AI in stratifying patients, as demonstrated by the examples cited in the article, underscores the importance of embracing these innovative approaches on a larger scale to effectively tackle the challenges healthcare providers face in managing their elective surgery waiting lists.
As the lead surgeon in one of the projects succinctly states, the guiding principle is simple: "Treating the right patient, in the right place, and at the right time." By embracing AI and data-driven solutions, healthcare providers can take a significant step towards achieving this goal and ultimately provide better patient care.