Healthcare Chatbots: The Future of Healthcare?
Healthcare chatbots are computer programs that simulate human conversation. They are designed to improve patient communication, provide information about their health, and connect patients to medical professionals.
A healthcare chatbot has the potential to revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered to the patient experience by providing a more convenient and affordable way for patients to access health information and services.
Will chatbots bring patients and healthcare providers together?
With the recent negative publicity surrounding ‘medical gaslighting’ – whereby doctors dismiss patients’ symptoms as psychological – it’s no wonder that some people are worried about the increasing use of technology in healthcare.
But there is evidence to suggest that chatbots could help improve the doctor-patient relationship by providing a more convenient way for patients to access information and services and offering a personalized experience tailored to the individual.
How a healthcare chatbot works
Healthcare chatbots use natural language processing (NLP) to understand human conversation. They then provide responses based on the information that is given.
NLP is a branch of artificial intelligence concerned with the interaction between humans and computers. For example, an AI chatbot can interpret human language and respond in a way that is natural for humans. The machine learning of this language can be enhanced by providing it with more data.
The benefits of healthcare chatbots
Chatbot use in healthcare is still in its early stages. Still, Global chatbots in healthcare are expected to grow over 26% a year for the next 7 years, and it’s understandable due to the many potential benefits of healthcare chatbots, including:
1. Increased access to healthcare: Chatbots can provide patients with 24/7 access to health information and services, which is particularly important for those who live in remote or rural areas.
2. Improved communication between patients and healthcare providers: Chatbots can help to improve communication between patients and healthcare providers by providing a more convenient way for patients to get in touch with their care team.
3. Reduced waiting times: Chatbots can help to reduce waiting times for appointments and test results by providing a more efficient way for patients to communicate with their healthcare team.
4. Increased patient engagement: Chatbots can help to increase patient engagement by providing a more interactive way for patients to interact with their health information.
5. Improved health outcomes: By providing patients with timely and relevant health information, chatbots have the potential to improve health outcomes.
The challenges of healthcare chatbots
Despite the potential benefits, there are also some challenges associated with healthcare chatbots, including:
- Ensuring patient privacy and security: One of the key concerns around healthcare chatbots is ensuring that patient data is kept private and secure. Chatbots must comply with strict data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Getting patients to trust chatbots: For healthcare chatbots to be successful, patients will need to trust them. Unfortunately, this may be difficult to achieve, as many people still need to be convinced to trust technology with their personal health information.
- Ensuring accuracy: Another challenge facing healthcare chatbots is ensuring that they provide accurate information. This is essential to maintain patient safety. Chatbots will need to be regularly tested and updated to ensure that they are providing accurate information.
- Dealing with complex health queries: Healthcare chatbots will need to deal with complex health queries from patients. This could be a challenge, as many chatbots are only designed to handle simple questions.
- Making sure chatbots are easy to use: Another challenge is ensuring that healthcare chatbots are easy to use. If they are simple enough, patients may be put off using them.
Despite the challenges, healthcare chatbots have the potential to revolutionize healthcare. They could provide patients with increased access to healthcare, improved communication with their care team, and reduced waiting times.
Healthcare Chatbot examples are:
1. Ada: Ada is a chatbot that provides users with personalized health information and advice. It is available on the web, iOS, and Android platforms.
2. Babylon Health: Babylon Health is a chatbot that uses AI and Technology that connects patients and providers and offers users 24/7 access to healthcare services. It is available on the web, iOS, and Android platforms.
3. Woebot: Woebot is a mental health app chatbot that offers cognitive behavioral therapy to users. It is available on the web and iOS platforms.
4. mySugr: mySugr is a chatbot that helps people with diabetes to manage their condition. It is available on the web, iOS, and Android platforms.
5. Healthily: Healthily is a chatbot that provides users with personalized health information and advice. It is available on the web, iOS, and Android platforms.
6. HealthTap: HealthTap is a chatbot that provides users with access to healthcare information and advice from doctors. It is available on the web, iOS, and Android platforms.
9. exacCoach: The exacCoach™ suite is a chatbot for the orthopaedic healthcare industry and features a patient text messaging service that helps you virtually coach your total joint patients from surgical preparation through rehabilitation. Stay connected before surgery and throughout your recovery.
10. Medisafe: Medisafe is a chatbot that helps users to manage their medication. It is available on the web, iOS, and Android platforms.
FAQs
Conclusion
The healthcare industry is always looking for ways to improve patient care and increase efficiency. Healthcare chatbots could be a transformative technology that helps to achieve these goals.
A healthcare chatbot has the potential to revolutionize and improve healthcare by providing patients with increased access to healthcare, improved communication with their care team, and reduced waiting times. Even though some challenges need to be addressed, such as ensuring accuracy and making them easy to use, healthcare chatbots show great promise for improving healthcare.
