Slade Group, in partnership with our sister company TRANSEARCH, hosted a forum entitled AI in Healthcare – Friend and Foe. As the title suggests, this emerging technology has the capability of being a game-changer for the good of the industry, but there is a potential minefield that must be navigated.
In order to contemplate the issue, we were privileged to have an expert panel consisting of Evgueni Iakhontov, the co-founder and Managing Partner of Revity, an IT consulting firm in Melbourne; Professor Erwin Loh, President Elect of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and National Director of Medical Services for Calvary Health Care; and Elizabeth Kennedy, an Australian Lawyer and Non-Executive Director of Western Health, Australian Psychological Society Ltd, as well as the lawyer member of the Victorian Pharmacy Authority and Council member of Janet Clarke Hall.
The panel members highlighted that the technology is already in use in capital equipment such as surgical robots, diagnostic tools and transcribing technology. However, in all applications, it should be considered a “co-pilot”, meaning a human should oversee and vet the output. The technology is susceptible to hallucinations or biases due to having insufficient experience or knowledge to fully interpret the available data.
The technology has proven its ability to efficiently undertake routine (and sometimes complex) tasks, such as rostering, clinical coding, or surgical bookings. As such, it is anticipated that cost savings through labour reductions will result, which will undoubtedly be attractive to health-related industries that are constantly seeking productivity gains.
As a former Executive in the hospital industry, my main cautionary take outs were:
- Governance – at a minimum, policies should be developed that contemplate AI being used in your organisations now.
- Liability – Your organisation maybe vicariously liable, as there is a non-delegable duty of care. For example, if a VMO uses AI to record and document a consultation in their rooms, and this is relied on during an episode of care at your facility, which in turn leads to a clinical incident, the hospital is potentially liable if proper checks are not in place.
- Insurance – The above may have insurance implications, and providers should ensure they have appropriate coverage with insurers.
Typically, the industry will have early adopters, with many others taking a “wait and see” approach. In the interim, it is acknowledged that successful collaboration between developers, intended users and other stakeholders (such as patients) will be critical to minimising potential risks, which includes data and privacy breaches and the loss of intellectual property. However, I would like to finish on a positive note, as Professor Loh proposed: “Harnessing the technology will make the industry more consumer-centric.”
Slade Group wishes to thank the presenters for their time and our clients in supporting the event.
If you would like further advice on attracting and retaining talent in private hospitals or in the broader Healthcare sector, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Vincent Borg
Vincent Borg has extensive experience in the health sector, having worked both in private and not-for-profit organisations. His previous roles as General Manager at Healthscope, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital and Epworth Healthcare saw him oversee large, multi-site facilities in the acute and sub-acute services, including greenfield operations. Vincent’s recent operational experience means he is well-connected with industry thought leaders, across all segments of the sector. As such, he has a clear understanding of issues many hospital executives are currently experiencing and the emerging issues impacting health care providers. Read more…
