Mihir Patel, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and treasurer at Indianapolis-based OrthoIndy said voice-driven technology was one of the biggest healthcare trends he's excited about.
Here are the top three things he told Becker's Spine Review were on his mind:
Note: This response was edited for style.
Question: What are the top three trends you're following in healthcare today?
Dr. Mihir Patel: We are closely following AI trends in orthopedics. With the recent acquisition of Nuance by Microsoft and the partnership announced between HCA and Google, useful technology may be on the horizon in aiding patients to create and navigate their customized treatment plans.
With the elimination of many inpatient only codes, the outpatient setting in all aspects of medicine is an exciting time. Virtual provider visits, outpatient procedures with disposable kits, home rehabilitation devices, and wearable devices to monitor acute and chronic conditions are all providing patients a continuum of care with the help of technology in the outpatient setting.
Much like Siri, voice driven care will help providers see patients, order appropriate tests and document the episode of care in a timely manner without the hassles of pointing and clicking. Voice driven documentation has improved the professional lives of many providers over the past few years, and the expansion of voice technology is a great frontier in more efficient medicine.