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The rapid transformation of the healthcare landscape is undeniable. It is marked not only by innovative technologies and modern solutions that shape patient treatment, but also by a profound change in the way patients interact with the medical system and the expectations that accompany it.
Years ago, patients might have been viewed as more passive recipients of care; Today they are empowered and educated “consumers” who want to be part of their care decisions.
It can be argued that patients have been the most powerful force in driving change in the way care is delivered today. In many ways, this change promises to benefit both patients and doctors.
AI's ability to quickly distill large amounts of data can give doctors and patients faster access to results. (iStock)
Additionally, this push has driven personalization in care, increasing engagement between doctor and patient with the expectation of frequent communication while prioritizing data privacy.
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To meet these changing expectations, AI has become the lynchpin.
Cancer care alone is a powerful example of how AI can serve to help realize consumer expectations for how healthcare is delivered.
The first expectation of the “consumer manual” is the concept of efficiency. Time is valuable and responses or services are expected to be virtually instantaneous.
While many understand that healthcare and its services can take time, largely for quality and safety reasons, the underlying expectation of speed still persists. This is an area where AI can help.
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Technology's ability to extract large amounts of data quickly can give doctors and patients faster access to results and, in turn, enable more timely conversations about care.
What's more, is the ability of AI to take this data and transform it into a personalized treatment plan. This is the second page of the consumer manual: personalization.
Patients no longer expect to be treated as generic cases with uniform treatment regimens, but as individuals with distinct care needs and desires. Important personal preferences that should affect treatment recommendations include the desire to live the highest quality of life, simplify logistics, and care for your mental well-being, all of which are areas that may be affected by the selected treatment.
In prostate cancer care, doctors already have the opportunity to integrate an AI-enabled test that includes predictive information about whether a patient will benefit from a particular therapy and a prognostic risk score to support personalized treatment.
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The opportunity for clinician and patient to access and evaluate information about the benefits of a treatment can increase trust and this trust can provide a host of benefits, including better adherence to the selected treatment and improved mental well-being.
Another way today's patients demonstrate that they are also today's consumers is that they are educated. Similar to researching a product or service outside of healthcare, they won't hesitate to do the heavy lifting of research when it comes to your care.
Gone are the days when patients were simply told the course of treatment. Instead, they show a desire to understand how and why this treatment will work, as is their right; After all, patients are the ones who must live with the results.
The side effects of many cancer treatments can affect daily life and even be long-lasting, and many patients and loved ones want the option to make data-driven decisions about whether the treatment option is one they agree with.
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Increasingly, patients can turn to AI-based health information tools to better understand their diagnosis and treatment options, which can improve the discussion and shared decision-making process with their doctor.
Finally, regardless of the AI use case, privacy has been pushed, ensuring that data not only remains private but also secure. Privacy risks are significantly higher in healthcare.
Medical data is often deeply personal and sensitive and must be handled with great care. Patients are turning to doctors and AI developers to prioritize responsible data practices, implement strong safety measures, and provide accessible explanations about the role of AI in their care.
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In an era marked by instant information and higher consumer expectations, AI serves as a cornerstone to build the new phase of healthcare. Patients will continue to expect access to education, more transparency, and responsible data practices.
While some of these concepts may seem new or evolved, the core of healthcare remains: putting the patient's needs first.
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