In an era of rapid technological advancement, Provide Community is taking bold steps to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance patient care and streamline operations. Provide Community have set up an AI working group who are researching and testing AI capabilities ahead of developing a strategy and policy to embrace AI within service areas. Central to Provide Community’s approach to this development has been colleague engagement, with over 80% of colleagues backing the vision to use AI responsibly and ethically in healthcare. This process has provided insights to support priority focus and risk control as well as establishing the organisations AI narrative
Empowering Growth Through Responsible AI
At the heart of the AI strategy that is being developed, lies a commitment to "empower growth and collaboration through the responsible use of AI, ensuring safety, fairness, and kindness in all endeavours." This mission statement resonates strongly with Provide Community, who recognise the potential of AI to transform lives while maintaining the human touch that is so crucial in healthcare. The following areas are examples where AI could make a significant impact:
- Document and record management: AI-powered tools could revolutionise time-consuming tasks such as report writing, transcribing, and managing patient records. This would allow healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care and less on paperwork.
- Operational efficiency: From ordering equipment to managing triage processes and reconciling invoices, AI has the potential to streamline operations, leading to faster, more efficient service delivery.
- Communication enhancement: While recognising the need for human interaction, especially with elderly patients, there is potential in AI-assisted patient communication for tasks like sending reminders and following up on care plans.
- Innovation ideas for front line colleagues and services: Ideas range from interactive apps supporting parents and carers with care plans to AI-powered chatbots on our websites to guide patients through online testing and appointment booking.
Kez Spelman, Director for Innovation and Community Resilience at Provide Community said: “This is an exciting time for us and the potential for AI to support innovations within our services. The enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by colleagues in embracing AI are truly inspiring. As we continue to explore and implement AI solutions, we remain focused on improving and transforming lives through responsible and ethical use of technology.
“From streamlining administrative tasks to enhancing patient engagement and predictive healthcare planning, AI is set to play a crucial role in Provide Community's future. By harnessing this technology responsibly, we're not just improving our efficiency – we're reimagining healthcare delivery for the benefit of our patients and colleagues alike.
“As we move forward with AI integration, we're mindful of the concerns raised by our colleagues. These include the potential impact on jobs, increased energy consumption, and the risk of removing compassion from care. We're committed to addressing these issues head-on, ensuring that AI complements rather than replaces human expertise and empathy.”
As we embark on this exciting journey, we invite all healthcare professionals to join us in shaping a future where AI and human expertise work hand in hand to deliver exceptional care. Together, we can unlock the full potential of AI in healthcare while staying true to our values of care, compassion and innovation.
For more information on Provide Community visit: www.providecommunity.org.uk
