Hospitals are facing increased stress due to the pandemic. Remote triaging using AI to check symptoms and capture patient history could help reduce waiting times and free up hospital space. AI-based telemedicine with video consultations and treatment plans could help address the decreased capacity to treat non-Covid patients. Social media AI interfaces in local languages could make registration, reports, and appointments more accessible for patients who are accustomed to mobile platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. While digital transformation faces challenges regarding universal health records and sensitive data protection, AI is driving more interoperability between hospital departments and supporting an exponential growth in healthcare applications post-pandemic.

1. 31-10-2020 R T 1
Hospitals & AI
Ground level observations post pandemic

2. 31-10-2020 R T 2
System in duress:
Hospital footfalls have steeply increased. Load on
hospitals to service patients faster while following social
distancing protocols
AI to the rescue:
Remote Triaging – This has been one of the key ask
from all the conversations I’ve had. Using AI to check
symptoms and capture vitals. Patient medical history
captured prior to consultation. Frees up waiting
time/space at hospitals

3. 31-10-2020 R T 3
System in duress:
Covid case load has affected consultation of other
disease states. Patients don’t feel safe to visit or find it
difficult to get appointment slots
AI to the rescue:
AI Based Telemedicine – A conversational NLP bot
takes the patient to a video consultation with doctor
after initial prognosis. Prognosis includes treatment
plan journeys based on doctor certified rule-based
protocols. (allopathic and alternative medicine both).
AI to analyse scans/video for accurate diagnoses.

4. 31-10-2020 R T 4
System in duress:
Patient dependency on hospitals for simple tasks
like registrations, reports and appointment
bookings.
AI to the rescue:
Social Media AI – Shift from ops-centric to patient
centric. Accessibility of an AI conversational interface
on channels which patients are already use with on
their mobiles. This includes FB, WhatsApp, Telegram
and the likes. Register, download reports and book
appointments in regional languages for patient ease.

5. 31-10-2020 R T 5
A Final Word:
There are challenges in moving completely digital owing
to a lack of a universal EHR. Yet, new AI interfaces are
driving interoperability between departments of the
same hospital at the least due to extensive integration
capabilities.
PII data is sensitive and needs to be protected. Local
regulations like HDPSA (India) or PDPC (Singapore)
need to be factored in.
All in all, healthcare AI growth is exponential post
pandemic, what’s your take!