by Dr. Hillary Lin
AI takes care of the data, while humans care for the soul.
Deborah was a patient whose mother was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. Living close to her mom, Debbie felt fortunate enough to drive her to oncology appointments. However, juggling her children’s activities and her mother’s treatments quickly pushed her to her emotional limit. She inadvertently missed some of her mom’s crucial infusion appointments, compromising her mother’s treatment outcomes.
Financial hurdles, transportation bottlenecks, gaps in health literacy, and communication breakdowns are often the invisible barriers to effective cancer treatment, as identified by researchers from the World Health Organization and academic institutions. Luckily, studies have shown patient navigation can help overcome these hurdles. Navigation can shorten the time to treatment and reduce the overall cost of care to the tune of $1 million per navigator in a healthcare system.
Navigation can shorten the time to treatment and reduce the overall cost of care to the tune of $1 million per navigator in a healthcare system.
But what if we could unlock an even greater level of efficacy and personalization? So far, patient navigation has been a manual endeavor, often bottlenecked by the limitations of human resources and outdated systems. Digital tools and intensive patient support programs have tried to bridge the gap but often fall short due to poor engagement — a consequence of poor outreach and a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach that doesn’t account for the unique needs of individual cancer patients.
AI stands as the harbinger of a new era in healthcare — a paradigm shift offering hyper-personalized care without the logistical nightmare of added labor training and costs. AI enables navigators to go beyond a board full of sticky notes and a database of contacts. Where a navigator now has to explain a concept multiple times, AI solutions can spend an unlimited amount of time re-explaining a complex concept so patients can be better informed and engaged in their care. Patient services teams can leverage intelligent tools to augment their work a hundredfold, automating education, resource allocation, and navigation. This allows human services staff to focus their emotional energy on providing reassurance and building meaningful relationships with their patients rather than burning out on administrative tedium.
In a world recovering from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare system has been stretched to its limits. The rising number of cancer diagnoses globally, and pandemic-induced staff burnout make AI not just an innovation but an urgent necessity.
We’ve reached an inflection point where we can finally battle the rising cancer burden with AI’s burgeoning capabilities.
AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data in real time, learning from each patient’s unique situation. They can predict which patients are at higher risk for missing appointments, experiencing severe side effects, or facing financial hardships. By identifying these risks early, healthcare providers and support staff can intervene more proactively, reducing costs and improving outcomes.
AI in healthcare comes with its share of ethical and regulatory considerations. Data privacy and algorithmic bias are among the top concerns that must be addressed for AI to gain wider acceptance. Standardized regulations, ethical AI practices, and transparent algorithms can go a long way in building trust.
Generative AI has an additional challenge; while it is incredibly powerful for personalizing educational materials for each individual, systems need to be designed with a human check in place. With this added step of a human-in-the-loop, however, we can expand the potential of AI 1000-fold while reducing much of the risk.
The AI revolution is not about replacing the human element in healthcare; it’s about enhancing it. Patient navigators equipped with AI tools can offer more personalized care, leaving them free to focus on emotional support and education. AI takes care of the data, while humans take care of the soul.
Imagine a world where a patient navigator, augmented by artificial intelligence, steps in at each critical juncture to ease the burdens on Debbie and her mom. This AI-human navigation team becomes a supercharged force, providing Debbie with a clear understanding of her mom’s health plan and follow-up care. The AI navigator can even identify financial assistance programs and housing options when Debbie’s mom has to travel for a clinical trial.
AI is a groundbreaking force poised to revolutionize the healthcare landscape. For individuals like Debbie and her mom, who are navigating the intricate maze of cancer treatment, AI-enhanced patient services can serve as a guiding light. As we look to the future, incorporating AI into oncology care and patient support isn’t a mere possibility — it’s an imperative for patient care.
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