How to Leverage Tech for Better Health Outcomes

Many healthcare organizations are trying to optimize their workflows without a clear strategy, and that’s where things can go wrong. While serving as the US Navy's chief medical informatics officer (CMIO), I learned important lessons about workflow optimization, strategy, and technology integration. Here’s the truth: Healthcare workflows are intricate and multifaceted. Without the right approach, there’s a risk of: ⏳ Wasting valuable time on redundant tasks 💸 Incurring unnecessary costs 😟 Compromising patient experiences But it doesn’t have to be this way. 🔍 Here’s what you need to know to streamline and optimize your healthcare workflows with AI: 1️⃣ Identify Bottlenecks. First, not all workflow issues are created equally. Some are more critical than others. → Start by pinpointing the areas where inefficiencies are costing you the most. 2️⃣ Leverage AI for Automation. AI can handle routine tasks like appointment scheduling and data entry. → Free up your staff to focus on patient care and complex decision-making. 3️⃣ Enhance Decision-Making with AI. Insights AI can quickly analyze vast amounts of data, offering insights that improve patient outcomes. → Use AI to support clinical decisions and personalize treatment plans. 4️⃣ Improve Communication Channels. AI-driven tools can streamline communication between departments and with patients. → Ensure everyone is on the same page, reducing errors and enhancing patient satisfaction. 5️⃣ Monitor and Adjust Regularly. AI is powerful, but it is not set and forgotten. Continuous monitoring and adjustments are key. → Regularly review your workflows and tweak AI tools for ongoing optimization. Healthcare is challenging enough. Don’t let outdated workflows add to the stress. With a strategic approach, AI can transform your healthcare operations, making them more efficient, cost-effective, and patient-centered. 👉 Are you ready to explore how AI can elevate your healthcare workflows? Let’s discuss the possibilities.

𝗜 ❤️ 𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀, 𝗕𝗨𝗧… This article got me thinking about the people and process changes necessary to fully leverage this tech. Here are 2 key examples: 𝟭. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲” 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 Start every encounter by stating: "I'm recording this conversation, and an artificial intelligence system will summarize our discussion. Do you have any questions?" Why? Being upfront about AI use avoids awkward (and potentially heated) conversations as patients become more aware of the tech and encounter hyped-up AI horror stories on the internet. Yes, this takes a bit of time upfront, but skipping it can have significant costs in trust later. 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 👉 Have an information pamphlet ready for patients with details about AI privacy and accuracy. 👉 Send a message to patients before their appointment explaining the use of AI during their visit. 𝟮. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀” 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 Every encounter should include a quick review of the AI-generated note immediately after the conversation. Why? A quick review following the encounter prevents introducing convincing but incorrect information into medical records. AI can generate subtle, plausible-sounding errors that are easy to miss – especially if editing happens hours later. 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 👉 Build time buffers into schedules for quick AI note reviews. A portion of the time saved by using AI can be reinvested here. 👉 Provide training to clinicians on how to spot common AI errors or hallucinations. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 Again, I ❤️ this use of AI – it has incredible potential to improve outcomes for both patients and healthcare professionals. 🔑 The key to unlocking this potential is proactive leadership rethinking old ways of working and embedding AI so that it supports clinicians, builds trust, and improves patient outcomes. As always: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁! 💪 __________________________________________ (Source in the comments.)

❓How to Leverage AI for Predictive Analytics in Patient Care What if you could spot complications before they happen? AI-powered predictive analytics is turning that “what if” into reality. By analyzing EHR data, vitals, and even social determinants of health, AI can identify patients at high risk of deterioration, readmission, or complications—enabling early, targeted interventions that improve outcomes and reduce costs. Start here: Pick one high-impact condition—like sepsis or heart failure. Use AI to surface risk in real time, and build workflows around those insights. This is more than tech—it’s a smarter, safer way to deliver care. I dive deeper into strategies like this in my upcoming book, Leading with Wisdom: A Practical Guide to AI Strategy and Execution. #AIinHealthcare #PredictiveAnalytics #DigitalHealth #Leadership #EHR #EPIC #LeadingWithWisdom #HealthcareOnLinkedIn

In the rush to integrate AI, it's easy to focus on what it can automate. But in healthcare, AI's most profound impact might be its ability to support human connection, not replace it. Imagine AI as a tool that: • Creates smoother transitions between care teams, so patients feel consistently supported • Preserves time for face-to-face interactions, even in tech-driven workflows • Amplifies trust-building moments that truly impact patient outcomes Five ways AI can strengthen human connection: 1. Protect Conversation Time • Automate documentation in the background • Handle routine coordination invisibly • Free mental space for active listening • Enable eye contact instead of screen focus 2. Support Team Relationships • Share insights across care teams naturally • Enable smoother handoffs • Facilitate timely collaboration • Build trust through better information flow 3. Create Space for Empathy • Handle routine tasks quietly • Allow for longer patient interactions • Support emotional awareness • Enable presence over process 4. Enable Better Transitions • Keep everyone informed appropriately • Reduce communication gaps • Support continuous care relationships • Maintain connection through changes 5. Amplify Human Insight • Surface patterns that need human attention • Support clinical judgment, don't replace it • Enable deeper patient understanding • Strengthen team collaboration By approaching AI with a relationship-centered lens, we can design technology that strengthens the interactions and collaborations that make healthcare effective—and deeply human.