Courtesy: HLTH
Tech giants like Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft are gearing up to showcase their latest artificial intelligence (AI) innovations aimed at easing the workload of healthcare professionals. Next week, Las Vegas will host the HLTH conference, a major event expected to attract over 12,000 industry leaders. This year's focus will be on AI solutions designed to tackle the heavy administrative burden that healthcare workers face daily.
The demanding documentation process in healthcare can often be overwhelming. Doctors and nurses must keep patient records, manage interactions with insurance companies, and comply with various regulations. Unfortunately, much of this work is manual due to health data being scattered across multiple systems and formats. This cumbersome workload contributes to burnout in the industry, which is projected to face a shortage of 100,000 healthcare workers by 2028, according to consulting firm Mercer. To address this, tech companies see a lucrative opportunity in a market that could exceed $6.8 trillion in spending by the end of the decade.
Alex Schiffhauer, Google’s group product manager, addresses attendees at the Made By Google event held at the company's Bay View campus in Mountain View, California, on August 13, 2024. Getty Images
Google is among the leading companies looking to make a difference. The company recently announced the full launch of Vertex AI Search for Healthcare, a tool designed to help doctors find information across various medical records quickly. This feature was initially introduced during last year's HLTH conference in a trial phase. Google has also enhanced its Healthcare Data Engine, providing organizations with the support they need to implement generative AI.
A survey released by Google revealed that clinicians spend nearly 28 hours a week on administrative tasks. Eighty percent of healthcare providers believe that these clerical duties detract from their patient care time, while 91% are optimistic about using AI to streamline these responsibilities.
Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, discusses artificial intelligence technologies during a company event in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 30, 2024. Getty Images
Microsoft is also making strides in this area. Recently, the company unveiled a suite of tools aimed at reducing the administrative workload for healthcare workers. These tools include medical imaging models, a healthcare agent service, and an automated documentation solution specifically for nurses. Many of these tools are still under development but aim to lighten the load for healthcare professionals.
One of Microsoft’s notable offerings is the DAX Copilot, an automated documentation tool developed by its subsidiary, Nuance Communications. This tool uses AI to transcribe patient visits and convert them into clinical notes, freeing up doctors from the tedious task of typing. Microsoft plans to create a separate tool tailored to nurses, recognizing that their documentation needs differ from those of physicians.
The interest in AI scribe tools has surged this year, with competitors like Abridge and Suki also making headlines. Abridge has gained considerable attention after receiving investment from Nvidia’s venture capital division. Dr. Shiv Rao, CEO of Abridge, highlighted that the pace of AI adoption in healthcare feels historic.
Attendees explore Nvidia's AI technology during the 2024 Apsara Conference in Hangzhou, China, on September 19, 2024. Getty Images
Nvidia will also play a significant role at the HLTH conference. Kimberly Powell, the company’s vice president of healthcare, is set to deliver a keynote speech focusing on how generative AI can help healthcare providers spend more time with their patients. Nvidia has been a key player in the AI sector, with its graphics processing units (GPUs) powering applications like ChatGPT. The company has made significant advancements in healthcare, collaborating with major firms like Johnson & Johnson and GE HealthCare to develop AI tools for medical imaging, drug discovery, and genomics.
Although the healthcare sector has traditionally been slow to embrace new technologies, the growing interest in AI tools cannot be ignored. Many healthcare systems are still assessing their options and will be exploring various vendors at the conference. Tech companies will need to demonstrate their ability to solve complex issues in the healthcare landscape.
