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Many of us engage with chatbots daily on our smartphones without even realizing it. From navigating our bank accounts to asking Siri where the nearest coffee shop is, chatbots are revolutionizing how we live. Today, chatbots are a leading force in learning tech and are in almost every industry, including marketing, real estate, finance, and even healthcare.
So how can we use chatbots to give healthcare workers the help they need when they need it? Read on to discover why chatbots are the future of healthcare and the six ways in which they can support both healthcare workers and their patients.
What are chatbots? Chatbots are a type of artificial intelligence that carry out interactions with learners and perform repetitive tasks such as sending emails, lead generation, and data analysis. In the healthcare world, chatbots can be used to assist both healthcare workers and patients find the answers they need quickly. Here are some examples of how healthcare chatbots can make everyone’s lives easier;
They check symptoms. In emergencies, a patient must go to the hospital immediately, but for less urgent cases it’s not always necessary to travel to a hospital and waste the time of both the patient and their doctor. Healthcare chatbots save valuable time by helping learners better understand their bodies, and providing healthcare workers with more useful patient information. For example, the Healthily app acts as a symptom checker and provides information on different diseases while also assessing general health and patient progress.
They request prescription refills. Healthcare workers are busy, and they don’t have the time to chat personally with every patient about their prescription status. Luckily chatbots have the power to submit a prescription request to the patient’s doctor for a final decision and contact the patient when their refill is ready, which allows healthcare workers to process prescription refills in higher quantities and help more patients in a shorter amount of time.
They are available 24/7. Healthcare workers try their best to be available at all times, but they are only human. Healthcare chatbots on the other hand are available at all times and are personally dedicated to assisting patients with their problems.
This accessible form of healthcare assists those who might not otherwise get help. For example, in March 2019, GYANT reported that it helped 785,000 people in Latin America complete a pre-diabetes screening.
They provide critical information instantly. Healthcare workers know about emergencies, and during an emergency, time is of the essence. Healthcare chatbots have the power to organize and store patient information like vaccination records, allergies, and check-ups, making it easier for doctors to act quickly and get to the root of the problem.
Chatbots can even help patients check their existing insurance coverage, file for claims, and track the status of a claim. This makes doctors’ lives easier too, as it helps them pre-authorize billing payments and requests from patients.
They educate the masses. Many healthcare workers report feeling frustrated by misinformation about the coronavirus. Chatbots are a great way to help learners stay safe and informed about the current state of the pandemic and the effects of coronavirus.
They preserve anonymity: Have you ever refrained from asking a question because you were afraid it sounded silly? Chatbots allow both patients and healthcare workers and patients to anonymously ask questions in their own time, without the fear of being judged by others. Chatbots could encourage patients to ask more sensitive questions about their health and explore more resources on stigmatized subjects such as depression, anxiety, and reproductive health.
Better tools for healthcare workers mean better care for their patients. Healthcare chatbots are an exciting advancement that can boost healthcare efficiency, keep more patients safe, and spread valuable knowledge. With the help of healthcare chatbots, frontline workers can focus on emergencies, tend to more patients, and take more time to look after their own mental and physical health. Do you think chatbots could be useful in your workplace? Share your thoughts with us at WeLearn, because together we learn.
