Imagine a world where administrative tasks in the health industry—patient scheduling, data entry, and billing—are automated, precision medicine is driven by AI, and RPA tools are commonplace. We are no longer imagining. In this era of Intelligent Automation as a Service (IAaaS), we are living it. This blog post unravels the formidable combination of AI and RPA, its potential implications in the health industry, its pros and cons, and the transformative wave it’s steering in automation.
**What is Intelligent Automation (IA)?**
Intelligent Automation (IA) marries AI with Robotic Process Automation (RPA). IA is designing systems and workflows that intuitively mimic and enhance human tasks using AI technologies like machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. It combines the cognitive capabilities of AI with the task-oriented nature of RPA to automate complex, high-volume, and repetitive tasks.
**Advancements in Intelligent Automation**
Today's businesses are fast-tracking to the forefront of digital evolution. A report from KPMG International reveals that nearly half of all surveyed companies plan to implement IAaaS in the next two years (KPMG, 2019). On another front, the Grand View Research suggests that the global intelligent automation market size is expected to reach USD 13.75 billion by 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 40.6% from 2019 to 2024 (Grand View Research, 2019).
These digital leaps arise from advancements like natural language processing, AI-powered chatbots, and cloud RPA, invigorating newer possibilities of automation.
**IA and RPA in the Health Industry**
Intelligent automation is increasingly making its mark in the health industry. For instance, RPA tools in radiology departments ease laborious tasks like patient scheduling, data entry and monitoring scan time slots. AI systems boost precision medicine by predicting disease patterns and determining patient treatment pathways. Moreover, the burgeoning domain of IAaaS provides healthcare with scalable and cost-efficient automation solutions.
The case of Cleveland Clinic is an excellent illustration of RPA in action. The clinic leveraged RPA to address the pain points in their revenue cycle. RPA eliminated the tedious manual work of combining data and facilitated improved patient experiences and revenues (Healthcare IT News, 2019).
**Impact of Automation: A Mixed Bag**
Automation brings an array of benefits—increased efficiency, reduced errors, enhanced patient experiences, and resultant cost savings. However, it also propels challenges concerning data security, job loss, and the need for digital literacy. Notwithstanding, automation is altering business landscapes and the health industry is no exception.
**The Future Outlook**
As AI and RPA mature, the synergy of this duo will disrupt conventional work methods. We might see autonomous AI systems making complex decisions, seamlessly integrated RPA tools in healthcare workflows, and expanded IAaaS offerings.
To navigate this shift, businesses must rethink their strategies and equip their workforce with digital skills. As we traverse into this exciting IA-brimmed future, the question is, are we ready for the automated revolution?
References
Grand View Research. (2019). Intelligent Automation Market Size Worth $13.75 Billion By 2024.
Healthcare IT News. (2019). Cleveland Clinic's revenue cycle revamp: Robotic process automation and more.
KPMG International. (2019). The future of IT: Anticipating the next wave of technology disruption.