Technology, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and speech recognition software, has provided efficiencies in accessing patient data and improving documentation.

Kevin Koss, Chief Wellness Officer at Community Health Network, discusses his role in supporting the well-being and professional development of physicians. He highlights the workflow of a general internist, the importance of technology in healthcare, and the challenges physicians face with electronic health records (EHRs) and prior authorizations.

Introduction

Kevin Coss, a semi-retired internist with four decades of experience, currently serves as Chief Wellness Officer. His extensive career has seen him in various leadership roles, and his primary focus is on enhancing physician well-being and professional development.

Daily Workflow

Kevin's daily routine is centered around managing chronic diseases and providing preventive care for elderly patients. This involves detailed pre-visit planning due to the complexity of his patients' conditions and medications. His approach ensures that each patient receives tailored and comprehensive care.

Technology in Practice

In his practice, Electronic Health Records (EHRs) play a crucial role by offering access to patient data. However, Kevin faces challenges due to the lack of interoperability among different hospital systems, which can hinder seamless data sharing. Voice recognition software, particularly Dragon Medical One, has proven to be a valuable tool in his workflow. It aids in documentation and alleviates some of the burdens associated with traditional data entry methods.

Challenges and Solutions

Kevin acknowledges that EHRs often impose rigid workflows that disrupt physicians’ preferred practices. Additional challenges include dealing with prior authorizations and insurance restrictions, which contribute to the administrative burden and can impact the quality of patient care. Looking ahead, Kevin is optimistic about the potential of AI to transform healthcare. He envisions AI making significant contributions in several areas, including accelerating research and development, enhancing clinical decision-making by integrating best practice guidelines into EHRs, and streamlining administrative tasks such as prior authorizations and medication management.

Ethical Concerns and Future Outlook

Despite the promising prospects, Kevin raises important ethical concerns about AI. He highlights potential biases, issues of inequality in access, and the risk of misalignment between business objectives and clinical needs. He emphasizes the need to preserve the human element in personalized patient care. Kevin is particularly interested in AI's role as an operational co-pilot, assisting with tasks like scheduling and communication. However, he advocates for a cautious approach when it comes to complex clinical decision-making.

Top Technological Improvements for 2024

Looking forward to 2024, Kevin identifies key technological improvements that could enhance the healthcare landscape. One significant area is reducing the administrative burden by implementing technologies that minimize time spent on low-value tasks. Additionally, he sees great potential in using AI to improve pre-visit planning by summarizing patient data and streamlining visit preparations. Finally, enhancing patient communication through AI, which can translate diagnostic results into layperson’s terms, could greatly improve patient understanding and reduce anxiety.