AI & Data Intelligence: Driving Healthcare Innovation with Technology

AI & Data Intelligence: Driving Healthcare Innovation with Technology

Michael Hill

Senior Intelligence Analyst

June 28, 2024

15 min

The impact that AI and data intelligence are having on healthcare cannot be overstated. Its applications are as numerous as they are wide-ranging, with adoption rates being driven by rising caseloads, caregiver shortages and increased demand for virtualized services. The integration of AI not only streamlines operations but also significantly improves patient outcomes by enabling precision medicine and more efficient disease management.

According to a recent study from market research and consulting firm Precedence Research, the global AI healthcare market is expected to increase nearly tenfold, rising from $20.7 billion in 2023 to $188 billion in 2030. Another study, conducted by semiconductor manufacturer Intel, found that healthcare leaders have overwhelmingly high expectations for AI in facilitating predictive analytics for early intervention, clinical decision support, and collaboration across specialists to improve patient care, with more than 90% of respondents citing those three applications as the leading industry AI solutions.  

In collaboration with Stratascale, we unpack the growing healthcare technology landscape, with a spotlight on AI and data intelligence. Stratascale helps the Fortune 1000 transform the way they use technology to advance the business, generate revenue, and respond quickly to market demands.  

With the help of experts from Stratascale’s Office of the CTO providing invaluable, real-world insights, the synergy of thought leadership and practical knowledge aims to illuminate the profound impact of AI and data intelligence on the healthcare sector, offering a roadmap for organizations striving to harness these technologies for improved patient outcomes and operational efficiency. Join us as we explore the transformative potential of AI and data intelligence in revolutionizing healthcare.

Key Takeaways

  • Transformative Impact: AI and data intelligence are revolutionizing healthcare by streamlining operations and significantly improving patient outcomes.
  • Key Trend Drivers: AI enhances precision diagnostics, alleviates caregiver shortages, and drives process optimization in healthcare.
  • Key Players: Leading companies like Viz.AI, Notable, and Aidoc are at the forefront of integrating AI and data intelligence to advance healthcare delivery and efficiency.
  • Diverse Applications: AI and data intelligence are transforming areas such as medical imaging, virtual patient care, drug discovery, patient engagement, and administrative tasks.
  • Real-World Insights: Collaboration with Stratascale’s Office of the CTO provides valuable, practical insights into the impact and implementation of AI technologies in the healthcare sector.

Market Drivers & Trends

Areas where AI and data intelligence are transforming healthcare include medical imaging and diagnostics, virtual patient care, medical research and drug discovery, patient engagement and compliance, rehabilitation and administrative tasks. AI’s ability to enhance precision diagnostic and treatment capabilities is driving the adoption of automated medical transcription, deep learning for disease detection, and computer vision for imaging analysis, which can produce more accurate and timely interventions. Advances in AI-powered robotics are also fueling the development of solutions to address caregiver shortages in the industry through the automation of repetitive tasks, which enables healthcare professionals to focus on more critical aspects of care.

Mary-Kate Sloper, Emerging Technology Consultant at Stratascale, says of caregiver shortages: “These shortages are pervasive. In my recent article for the second edition of Stratascale’s magazine, Digital Compass, I found that there’s a nursing shortage crisis with 610,388 nurses projected to leave the field by 2027, as well as a serious physician shortage of up to 48,000 primary care physicians and 77,100 non-primary care physicians by 2034. This leaves a tremendous gap for innovative technologies to fill.”

The following represent some of the specific and primary AI and data market trend drivers within the healthcare industry, which are expected to continue to drive evolving technological, competitive, and ecosystem dynamics looking ahead.  

Key Drivers  

AI Enhances Precision Diagnostic and Treatment Capabilities:

AI significantly improves precision diagnostic and treatment capabilities through automated medical transcription, deep learning for disease detection, and computer vision for imaging analysis. These technologies enable more accurate and timely medical interventions, reducing the likelihood of diagnostic errors and enhancing patient outcomes. By harnessing AI's ability to analyze complex data sets and detect subtle patterns, healthcare providers can offer more precise and personalized care. This advancement not only addresses the rising prevalence of chronic illnesses but also enhances overall healthcare delivery efficiency.

AI and Robotics Alleviate Caregiver Shortages:

AI and robotics provide crucial solutions to alleviate the caregiver shortages currently plaguing the healthcare industry by automating repetitive tasks. This automation allows healthcare professionals to focus on more critical aspects of patient care, thereby improving overall service quality. By reducing the administrative burden and optimizing workflows, AI and robotics help mitigate the effects of burnout and staffing shortages. These technologies enable a more efficient allocation of resources, ensuring that healthcare providers can meet the increasing demand for their services.

AI-Driven Automation for Process Optimization:

AI-driven automation has emerged as a powerful tool for process optimization in healthcare, reducing the need for human intervention in repetitive, manual tasks such as intake, registration, and claim processing. This extends to pharmaceutical operations and medical imaging, where automation enhances efficiency and accuracy. By streamlining these processes, AI-driven automation not only lowers operational costs but also improves patient experiences by reducing wait times and administrative errors. The adoption of these technologies facilitates a more efficient and patient-centric healthcare system, addressing both operational challenges and enhancing service delivery.

AI and data driving healthcare innovation with technology

Key Trends:  

The healthcare industry technology trends that map to these drivers span individualized treatment protocols, patient monitoring, medical imaging and drug discovery. In leveraging AI to analyze genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors, practitioners are developing personalized treatment plans, while the remote diagnostics enabled by the melding of data and AI is making remote patient monitoring a viable alternative to in-person care. Further, the use of AI in parsing the data necessary to drug discovery and improving the accuracy of medical imaging has been shown to reduce the time and cost of bringing new drugs to market and to improving patient outcomes by reducing time to treatment.

Leveraging AI for Personalized Treatment Plans:

Leveraging AI to analyze genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors enables the creation of personalized treatment plans tailored to individual patient needs. This approach enhances the effectiveness of medical interventions, leading to better patient outcomes and higher satisfaction. By integrating AI into their systems, healthcare executives can develop more precise and individualized treatment protocols, addressing the unique health profiles of each patient.  

Integrating AI for Patient Monitoring and Diagnostics:

Platforms that integrate AI for patient monitoring, diagnostics, and treatment recommendations are transforming healthcare by expanding access to care, especially in underserved areas. These digital platforms enable remote diagnostics and monitoring, reducing the strain on healthcare systems and providing continuous care to patients. By adopting such technologies, healthcare providers improve patient engagement and deliver timely interventions, regardless of geographical barriers. This integration of AI supports a more efficient and inclusive healthcare system, ensuring broader access to quality care.

AI Enhancing Medical Imaging Accuracy:

AI algorithms that rapidly and accurately interpret medical images significantly improve diagnostic accuracy, enhancing the speed and precision of medical diagnoses. This technology reduces the time to treatment, enabling quicker and more effective patient care. Healthcare providers are embracing AI in imaging to enhance diagnostic processes, thereby improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency. The adoption of AI in medical imaging fosters a more responsive healthcare environment, where timely and accurate diagnoses are standard.

AI Accelerating Drug Discovery and Development:

AI accelerates the drug discovery and development processes by rapidly identifying potential therapies and optimizing clinical trial designs. This technology significantly reduces the time and cost associated with bringing new drugs to market. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly leveraging data-driven AI technologies can streamline their research and development efforts, enhancing innovation and competitiveness in the industry.  

Use Cases: Healthcare AI and Data Intelligence

healthcare AI and data intelligence use cases

The healthcare industry is undergoing a significant shift driven by innovative technology use cases that address both longstanding and emerging challenges. Administrative automation is streamlining workflows and reducing the burden on healthcare providers, while telehealth solutions are enhancing accessibility and convenience for patients. Precision medicine is delivering personalized treatments with unprecedented accuracy, and value-based care models are improving patient outcomes by aligning healthcare delivery with quality and efficiency.  

Stratascale’s Executive Advisor Ted DiMontova adds, “Today most are still putting a human in the loop for results, but AI is speeding up the time it takes to identify and write finding reports.  AI is being used in other interesting areas that improve operational effectiveness with AI powered Chat-bots and virtual health assistants that are on call 24x7 for sometimes even the simplest tasks of scheduling appointments.   These types AI use cases are really the next generation tools to enhance the healthcare worker and not replacing them.”

By leveraging these cutting-edge technologies, healthcare organizations are not only optimizing resource allocation and operational efficiency but also fostering a more patient-centric and sustainable healthcare environment.

Leading healthcare use cases for AI and data intelligence include:

  • Administrative Automation: Streamlines workflows and enhances cost management while addressing staffing shortages.
  • Telehealth: Enables virtual consultations, remote patient monitoring, and health tracking through AI-driven platforms.
  • Precision Medicine: Enhances diagnostic accuracy and enables personalized treatment plans using AI technologies.
  • Value-Based Care: Supports the transition to outcome-focused payment models, improving treatment effectiveness.
  • Precision Diagnostics & Treatment: Utilizes AI for advanced disease detection and imaging analysis, leading to timely and accurate diagnoses.
  • Workflow Automation: Optimizes administrative tasks and provides continuous patient support through AI-powered automation.
  • Data Orchestration & Analytics: Improves patient outcomes and operational efficiency by managing and analyzing healthcare data.
  • AI Medical Assistants: Offers real-time patient advice, medication monitoring, and predictive health insights.

Key Players

Within the healthcare landscape, certain innovators and technology providers are setting new benchmarks by harnessing the power of AI, data intelligence, and digitalization. These innovators are not only addressing critical challenges such as caregiver burnout, labor shortages, and the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses but are also pioneering advancements in precision medicine, virtual care, and workflow automation. By seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies into their solutions, these companies are driving significant improvements in operational efficiency, patient outcomes, and overall healthcare delivery.  

data and AI in healthcare solutions

The following companies have been identified as key drivers by our expert research team based on thorough research leveraging the Vation Platform.  

Aidoc  

Founded: 2017 | Funding: $264m | Focus: Precision Diagnostics & Treatment  

Overview: Aidoc leverages AI to enhance hospital efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and provide a proven return on investment across various medical specialties, including cardiovascular, neurology, and radiology. With its aiOS platform, Aidoc offers solutions such as real-time notifications for acute conditions, advanced diagnostic tools, and seamless integration into existing hospital IT infrastructures. Trusted by over 1,000 hospitals globally, Aidoc's innovative AI-driven approaches in medical imaging and patient management are recognized for their significant clinical impact.  

Deepscribe  

Founded: 2017 | Funding: $37m | Focus: AI Medical Assistants  

Overview: DeepScribe is revolutionizing the healthcare industry by leveraging advanced AI technology to reduce the administrative burden on medical professionals. Its AI-driven solution transcribes patient visits in real-time, filters out irrelevant conversation, identifies crucial medical information, and generates notes ready for integration into EHR systems. Adhering to HIPAA regulations, DeepScribe prioritizes patient privacy and security through encryption and restricted access while ensuring accuracy with a comprehensive dataset of real clinical conversations.  

Innovaccer  

Founded: 2014 | Funding: $379m | Focus: Healthcare Data Orchestration & Analytics  

Overview: Innovaccer is a healthcare technology firm specializing in data activation and analytics solutions that drive digital transformation in the healthcare industry. The company offers a suite of tools, including a Data Activation Platform, Intelligent Application Suite, and Developer Portal, enabling healthcare providers to consolidate data, develop interoperable solutions, and use analytics to improve care outcomes. Serving over 96,000 providers across more than 1,600 locations, Innovaccer's platform has significantly contributed to reducing healthcare costs and enhancing patient care for millions. Their solutions also address market intelligence, population health management, risk adjustment, and Medicaid decision support, among others.  

Nference  

Founded: 2013 | Funding: $153m | Focus: Healthcare Data Orchestration & Analytics  

Overview: Nference leverages advanced AI and biomedical expertise to transform electronic medical records (EMRs) into structured, privacy-secure datasets, collaborating with top health systems like Mayo Clinic and Duke Health. By providing proprietary EMR data, software products, and services, they tackle challenges across the drug lifecycle for biopharmaceutical companies and offer comprehensive solutions for health systems. Their platform aids in diagnostics, precision medicine, and scientific discovery, driving innovative breakthroughs and optimized patient care.  

Notable  

Founded: 2017 | Funding: $119m | Focus: Healthcare Workflow Automation  

Overview: Notable is an innovative company that offers an integrated digital platform to enhance patient engagement for healthcare organizations. Utilizing AI technology, their solutions streamline various patient touchpoints—including scheduling, reminders, registration, intake, messaging, and payments—while seamlessly integrating with existing EHR systems to automate workflows. Notable's offerings emphasize measurable financial returns from AI investments and have a proven track record of improving operational efficiency, increasing revenue capture, and achieving high patient satisfaction. Their services cater to healthcare organizations aiming to optimize patient engagement and streamline administrative tasks.  

Outbound AI  

Founded: 2021 | Funding: $23m | Focus: Healthcare Workflow Automation  

Overview: Outbound AI is a Seattle-based startup specializing in Conversation AI to streamline administrative work in the healthcare sector. The company's AI-powered virtual agents automate tasks such as phone-based billing, claims processing, and augment billing staff efficiency, targeting healthcare organizations of all sizes. Outbound AI's solutions integrate with existing systems, providing robust conversational analytics and real-time inference capabilities, while also enhancing staff productivity and overall job experience.  

Pieces  

Founded: 2015 | Funding: $62m | Focus: AI Medical Assistants  

Overview: Pieces leverages applied generative AI to streamline decision-making and improve patient care for healthcare providers while reducing costs and manual workloads. Their product suite includes solutions like Pieces Working Summary for patient overviews, Pieces Discharge Identification for tracking discharge barriers, and Predictive Models for safety and efficiency, among others. These tools aid care teams by saving time, reducing stress, enhancing documentation, and optimizing billing processes. These innovations aim to support frontline healthcare workers and improve overall clinical outcomes.  

Qventus  

Founded: 2012 | Funding: $98m | Focus: Healthcare Workflow Automation  

Overview: Qventus specializes in healthcare operations automation, focusing on patient flow and surgical operations to improve efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance care quality. Their AI-driven platform integrates machine learning, EHR data, and behavioral science to create closed-loop systems that optimize operating room access, increase surgical case volumes, and shorten hospital stays. The company offers personalized AI/ML models, software templates, and best practices across hospital departments, boasting high client satisfaction and tangible benefits like increased margins and reduced staff burnout. Qventus also provides operational transformation partnerships, leveraging a multidisciplinary team to deliver tailored solutions and drive project outcomes.  

Veda Data  

Founded: 2015 | Funding: $52m | Focus: Healthcare Data Orchestration & Analytics  

Overview: Veda is a data solutions provider specializing in the healthcare sector, offering comprehensive, accurate data on over 3.5 million active healthcare providers sourced from 100,000 unique sources. Utilizing its AI-powered platform, Velocity, Veda enhances data quality and validation through automated curation, while its Quantym service scores and improves provider directory accuracy. Veda's solutions ensure regulatory compliance, security, and risk management, and are designed to streamline administrative processes, reduce workloads, and enhance patient and member experiences across provider organizations, Medicaid, and commercial health plans. Their offerings help healthcare businesses improve data accuracy, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency through seamless integration and robust automation.  

Viz.AI  

Founded: 2016 | Funding: $292m | Focus: Precision Diagnostics & Treatment  

Overview: Viz.ai is a leading provider of AI-driven solutions aimed at enhancing patient outcomes and transforming healthcare delivery through real-time medical imaging analysis and automated assessments. Their portfolio includes FDA-cleared algorithms that detect suspected diseases across various therapeutic areas such as trauma, radiology, neurovascular, cardiovascular, and vascular medicine. Key offerings like Viz LVO for stroke, Viz Aneurysm, Viz Aortic, and solutions for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pulmonary embolism, and CT perfusion imaging underscore their role in expediting diagnosis and treatment. Supported by round-the-clock clinical specialists and robust customer service, Viz.ai is acclaimed for its transformative impact on patient care and operational efficiency.  

Industry Impact and Outlook  

The impact of AI and data intelligence on the healthcare industry is being felt in numerous ways. The faster, more accurate processing of vast data sets made possible by these technologies is leading to the adoption of AI-driven technologies for operational efficiency, especially in diagnostics and treatment personalization. Additionally, the ability of AI to uncover patterns and insights that were previously undetectable has implications for early disease detection and opens the door to breakthroughs in medical research and imaging. Finally, the enhanced patient monitoring, diagnostics and treatment recommendations enabled by AI and data intelligence are expanding access to care, especially among underserved populations.  

The healthcare industry is currently undergoing a transformative shift driven by resource constraints, evolving care models and rapid technological advances. Going forward, healthcare organizations will be tasked with aligning these factors within a unified framework that emphasizes improved patient care and more efficient service delivery. AI and data intelligence will play a significant role in this new healthcare paradigm, which depends as much on the adoption of cutting-edge technologies as it does on a deep commitment to improving patient outcomes and achieving operational excellence.

With that in mind, here are a few key strategic insights, considerations, and recommendations for industry operators to effectively capitalize on the evolving healthcare paradigm.  

  • The Role of Modernized Infrastructure: In the evolving healthcare landscape, modernized infrastructure is critical for enabling seamless data flow and real-time processing. Modernized infrastructure also supports the integration of sophisticated AI applications and facilitates real-time patient monitoring.
  • Immediate AI Prioritization: Healthcare providers’ AI strategies should focus on providing greater technological tool enablement, operational optimization, and enhanced patient delivery and experience. As healthcare organizations grapple with resource constraints, prioritizing AI deployment in administrative functions and precision medicine offers a clear path to immediate ROI.
  • Streamlined Telemetry Orchestration: Healthcare organizations face an imperative to effectively manage, analyze and orchestrate data across devices and environments. By optimizing data practices, healthcare organizations can better manage patient information, reduce errors, and facilitate seamless data sharing among care teams, ultimately driving improved patient outcomes.
  • Responsible AI Integrations: Effective AI deployment depends on responsible AI practices that emphasize ethical considerations, bias mitigation and patient data privacy. Adopting these practices enhances trust and safety in AI applications, aligning technology deployment with industry standards and patient interests.
  • Healthcare Ransomware Preparedness: With healthcare operators and systems finding themselves increasingly targeted and disrupted by ransomware threats, development of robust identity, data security posture management (DSPM) and backup solutions has become crucial.
  • Automated Compliance, Reporting, and Documentation: The complexity of healthcare regulations, coupled with emerging AI regulatory frameworks, calls for compliance approaches that leverage automated and adaptive reporting tools to streamline processes, ensure regulatory compliance and stay ahead of evolving AI standards.

Conclusion

Technological innovation within the healthcare vertical is critical for driving progress and improving patient care. DiMontova says, “Innovation in healthcare technology not only impacts patient care and healthcare systems but also serves as a catalyst for broader technological advancements. The challenges and stringent requirements of healthcare often necessitate cutting-edge solutions that can be adapted to or inspire innovations in other industries outside of healthcare.”  

AI and data intelligence are revolutionizing healthcare, driving improvements in operational efficiency, precision diagnostics, and patient care. As the industry continues to evolve, the power of research becomes paramount, enabling companies to stay at the forefront of these advancements. Leveraging comprehensive insights and cutting-edge solutions, organizations can navigate the complexities of modern healthcare and unlock new opportunities for growth and patient outcomes.

For companies looking to keep pace with these innovations, collaborating with experts and utilizing robust research capabilities is essential. Contact Vation Ventures today to learn more about our research services and how we can help you harness the power of technology to transform your healthcare operations.