It is no secret that the healthcare industry is one of, if not, the most-important sector in the U.S. economy. It not only employs more people than any other industry, but also pulls in nearly $4 trillion on a yearly basis, which is a quarter of our government’s wallet.
On the other end of the spectrum, healthcare costs have skyrocketed and, despite ranking in the Top 40 of life expectancy, the U.S. spends more, per-capita, than any other country in the world.
Enter machine-learning and artificial intelligence, both of which are primed to reshape healthcare and, quite possibly, help make it more readily available and affordable.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Influences (A Few Ins-and-Outs)
Both A.I. and machine-learning capabilities promise to impact healthcare in the coming years. The two are suited for each other and, together, can produce multiple data points, like symptoms, chemical composition, genetic makeup, blood pressure, BMI, among many others, to allow for a definitive report of a patient’s health. Where machine-learning stands out versus A.I. is in the ability to identify medicinal patterns and extract complex system insights to deliver loads of data. That said, A.I. sets itself apart regarding clinical imaging, patient intake, as well as engagement, and in-facility care.
Valuable Metrics all Hospitals Should Be Utilizing
Length of Stay: Measures the time span over the admittance and discharge for the patient. It is primarily tracked in months and quarters, but there is value in monitoring it on a weekly basis, because of care and staff efficiency. Patients who are in the system for longer periods of time are prone to Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC) and the risk of potentially contracting an infection is there.
Bed Occupation Rates: Tracks the hospital beds being used at any given time. In balancing bed availability, the standalone facility or multi-hospital system can assess where it stands, in real-time, should a pandemic strike. These bed utilization numbers help hospitals in staffing and facility management so that occupancy is more efficient, and money is not being lost.
Incidents: Tallies the unintentional results or side effects of medical procedures. This algorithm monitors hospital incidents in being able to better reduce them, while also allowing the facility to understand the quality of care it is providing. In turn, healthcare professionals can provide comprehensive care by possibly minimizing future adverse occurrences.
Readmission Rates: Records the percentage of patients coming back within 30 days from discharge. A high number in this category will not bode well for any medical facility as it could result in a lack of reimbursement payments or in more sever cases, even closures. Regulating this category is important in ensuring optimal patient health as well as institutional financial health too.
Learn How Partnering with MedPro Can Help Ensure You an Overall Workforce Solution
Our Managed Service Program, MedPro Custom Solutions, is built on the SalesForce™ platform and is flexible, scalable, secure and reliable. Our technology adapts to your existing processes and is customizable to meet your business needs. We can help you find qualified travel healthcare nurses, allied professionals and long-term foreign-educated nurses. Learn more by visiting: MedPro, MedPro International, Submit a Job Order or call us at (800) 866-8108.
