As allied health providers, at ORS we are passionate about transforming lives, and we achieve this through our exceptional team and innovative approaches such as the use of Artificial Intelligence technology. For those new to the area Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to machines or software that can mimic human intelligence to perform tasks, learn from data, and improve over time.
You might wonder: What potential does AI hold, and how can we adapt to a world where it plays an increasingly significant role?
Speed up Time Management and Documentation
One of the most practical applications of AI in healthcare is the ability to help manage your time including our love-hate relationship with documentation! For example, a Physiotherapist juggling multiple patient appointments, treatment plans, and administrative tasks can benefit greatly from AI support to help plan and prioritize all these tasks for the day, week, month, or year. At a clinical practice and management level, an AI assistant can handle routine duties such as scheduling appointments, sending patient reminders, and managing data.
This automation frees up valuable time for therapists to focus on delivering high-quality client-facing care. We can use AI to format and clarify de-identified notes to send to clients after their sessions (think of taking out all the clinical jargon) or write a referral letter with 5 dot points to advocate for holistic client management and ongoing care. Provided that you use your Clinical knowledge in conjunction with AI, the applications are limitless.
AI as your Data Assistant and Therapy Planner
Consider an AI-led system in a Rehabilitation service for someone who has had a stroke. The AI assistant could continuously monitor data from wearable devices, tracking patients’ physical activity, recovery progress, and response to therapies with so many platforms that already manage to collect data on steps, movement, vocal parameters, and breathing rate AI can be a biofeedback and data tracking tool in one.
The ‘next level’ of AI automation would detect a significant deviation from expected recovery patterns, and alert the healthcare team, suggesting a review of the patient’s treatment plan and recommending specific interventions based on evidence-based protocols.
AI as a Virtual Assistant in Physiotherapy
For Physiotherapists working in the disability sector, an AI assistant can function as a virtual intern, helping to make better-informed decisions. For instance, when treating a client with a complex neurological condition, the AI assistant can:
- Analyse the client’s de-identified medical history and current symptoms
- Suggest evidence-based treatment protocols
- Provide real-time updates on the latest research relevant to the client’s condition
- Assist in creating personalised exercise programs
This support allows the physiotherapist to focus on hands-on treatment and client interaction while having access to comprehensive, up-to-date information to guide their clinical reasoning and inform the Physiotherapist’s ongoing Evidence-Based practice.
Let's talk about Data Safety and Clinical Privacy
It’s true, what goes in AI stays in AI – all of it. That’s because AI is just that, an artificial means of creating human capacity. So who does it learn from Us? To make it ‘smarter’ AI takes our data and uses it to inform its algorithm and potential (think of your phone when you type an SMS, how it has learned your name, your keywords, etc.)
So, when using AI we need to discuss data privacy and confidentiality concerns. Patient confidentiality is without question, the number one consideration and we must create systems, policies, and procedures to reflect this in our services. It’s a must. This includes using strong encryption methods, limiting data access to authorized personnel, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, such as Australia’s Privacy Act.
Healthcare governing bodies in Australia are already releasing professional guidelines on using AI in healthcare settings so if you are using AI in healthcare settings you need to take responsibility and know how to protect your clients and yourself!
Will AI take our jobs - Can it do better?
This is a great question. “What does ORS value most?”. It values its people – both the clinicians inside ORS and the clients that make up our dynamic service. Without the human connection, our Allied Health therapies would not exist in the first place.
AI is not intended to replace clinicians. Instead, it serves as a powerful assistant, offering suggestions to propel clinical decision-making and inquiry and freeing up clinicians’ time from tasks that take away from our face-to-face connections. When we work in partnership with AI, we can do something special – We can be present, we can create focus, and we can harness holistic capabilities that we may not have dreamed up before.
Moving Forward
As we move forward, the collaboration between technology and human expertise in healthcare is an exciting prospect. By embracing AI while maintaining a client-centred approach and relying on our core knowledge from our rigorous Allied Health degrees and training as well as respecting individual needs and privacy, we can improve client outcomes and transform the delivery of care.
The benefits of AI aren’t limited to Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology but also span across all Allied Health Professions including Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Psychology, and Positive Behaviour Support.
So, if you are thinking about embracing AI and thinking about what it could do for you, then appreciate the Future of Healthcare is Now!
If you’re ready to take the next step towards an exciting and rewarding career at ORS click here!
Looking for allied health services that work? Call us on 1800 000 677 or refer now!
