Director of Engineering, Maha Hegde, explains how we’ve already put in the groundwork to ensure we’re AI ready.
AI is “the defining opportunity of our generation” said the Prime Minister as he endorsed the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan which sets out the UK can become “an AI superpower”.
While the tech isn’t new, the AI buzz has got louder in recent years as more of us have got on board through generative AI tools like ChatGPT. However, its potential goes much further than that, especially for the healthcare sector. As the PM explained, “AI-powered scans can help doctors detect disease earlier”, “cut NHS waiting lists by scheduling better appointments” and offer “frontline staff the precious gift of time”.
As a tech company, you’d expect us to spot the opportunities that AI presents in the private healthcare sector but that’s the easy bit. The real challenge is to harness intelligent tech in a systematic and responsible way so we can all see the benefits. That’s why we’re so excited to tell you about Healthcode Intelligence (Hi).
Intelligent solutions for your practice
Hi – a set of technologies that enables computers to perform a variety of advanced functions which simulate human intelligence. By building Hi into the design, development and roll out of our products and services, we can transform private healthcare. Think of it as a virtual assistant who can make recommendations, predictions and decisions, create content and analyse data at your command.
All this has been possible because we’ve been quietly putting the critical foundations in place over the last few years with our own Action Plan:
- Back in 2019, we launched a programme to modernise our tech framework so we were ready to integrate robust, scalable and reliable AI solutions. For fellow techies, this includes migrating to cloud-based services, investing in composable architecture using APIs and microservices and commissioning a data platform to support AI innovation
- Appointed a Director of Engineering who’s accountable for enterprise architecture, cloud computing, data and emerging tech, including AI
- Adopted five governing principles to ensure we meet the highest standards when developing our AI products and services which are in line with industry best practice:
- Make sure we do things safely and securely
- Use AI ethically and responsibly
- Put people first
- Make sure we’re transparent and explain what we’re doing
- Be open to challenges and be willing to make changes
- Optimised our ability to generate data insights to support customers including our new business intelligence service, Sentinus
- Incorporated intelligent features into our existing products and services such as Shortfall Collection Service and the next generation of ePractice, our 360° solution for private practice management e.g. modelling based diagnostic pathways
- Launched the Hi brand to show customers which products and services include these powerful features
- Created a development roadmap to roll out Hi-powered tools to customers in the coming months and years, including Prescribing, clinical coding, appointment scheduling, fraud, waste and abuse (FWA) detection and strategic decision making
AI has enormous potential to make our lives easier, as well as giving healthcare practitioners more time to focus on patients but it’s important to check the credentials and expertise of tech companies to ensure they have put in the groundwork and their promises are achievable.
As you can see, we’ve thought carefully about what it takes to implement this advanced technology and we’re ready to go. Watch this space for announcements in the coming months.
