COVID-19 presented myriad challenges for health care professionals and further fueled the burgeoning burnout crisis in the field. But, technological solutions including AI can help health care organizations stem the tide and reduce turnover. Hari Prasad, CEO of Yosi Health, recently spoke with SmartBrief to discuss technology’s role in improving health care and public health.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the public health workforce. How can technology such as AI support public health professionals facing burnout and help organizations prevent turnover?
COVID-19 highlighted several structural deficiencies and gaps in our care delivery and the resulting health care workers’ burnout. AI-driven technology can help alleviate the post-pandemic stresses experienced by health care workers by automating administrative tasks, streamlining workflows and offering predictive analytics that can help forecast patient needs. Leveraging the advantages offered by AI enables professionals to focus on direct patient care while reducing burnout among office staff and improving retention rates.
How has telehealth helped reduce health disparities?
Telehealth has been pivotal in enhancing health care accessibility, especially for those patients in underserved communities. By eliminating geographical barriers, telehealth delivers remote access to quality health care services, bridging gaps in care and providing equitable opportunities for those facing traditional geographic, mobility or economic factors. Telehealth platforms have played a critical role in helping patients access these services easier than ever.
What are the big challenges in patient engagement, and what changes can improve public health efforts and access to care?
Among the major challenges in patient engagement are accessibility and convenience. User-friendly, hyper-personalized digital platforms empower patients to access information, schedule appointments and engage with their health care providers easily. Improving digital literacy and designing intuitive interfaces can enhance public health efforts by fostering active patient involvement in their own care.
What are some technology-related resources and references that health professionals should be aware of?
Encouraging health care professionals to explore recent advancements such as remote patient monitoring, AI-driven decision support systems and interoperable electronic health record solutions is a good place to start. Staying updated on cybersecurity measures to safeguard patient data is crucial in today’s digital health care landscape.
Hari Prasad is CEO of Yosi Health, a cloud-based patient intake, registration and engagement platform for community health centers and federally qualified health centers, health systems and independent practices.
____________________________________
Take advantage of SmartBrief’s FREE email newsletters for health care CIOs and leaders, as well as public health and epidemiology professionals, which are among the company’s more than 250 industry-focused newsletters.