Health execs implementing AI undaunted by COVID
A survey of 540 health information management executives has found 90% of their respective organizations planning widespread AI deployment over the next five years. The survey was conducted throughout fiscal 2020’s fourth quarter, so the COVID crisis has not knocked many off their AI game.
What’s more, almost half the cohort, 47%, are already using at least one form of AI.
Black Book Research released the findings this week. Other notable percentages from the firm’s Q4 questioning:
- 97% of hospitals confirm documented quality improvements and increases in case mix index within six months of implementing AI-enhanced clinical documentation improvement.
- 95% are optimistic that AI technology can “streamline document creation and enable clinicians to capture a holistic patient history to boost outcomes but also improve revenue integrity.”
- 94% of polled providers are eager to implement more sophisticated clinical documentation improvement tools that use AI to boost the speed, accuracy and efficiency of coders.
- 87% are prioritizing the 2021 acquisition of platforms with embedded AI to, among other things, analyze EHR notes and clinical data for closing gaps and addressing deficiencies before notes are saved to the EHR.
- 86% percent of health systems’ chief financial officers “claim that the biggest motivator for adopting AI coding support tools is to provide improvements in case mix index.”
- 68% of the CFO respondents say they have retained committed funds to AI coding improvements in FY 2021.
Black Book says these findings were culled from various surveys taken during 2020.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.