Prefer to listen? Addressing Complexity (4:18)

A complex patient can present with symptoms and signs that are related to hundreds of diseases and implicate several body systems. There are 18,000 known diseases, and a patient can have more than one disease. This leads to millions of possibilities, typically falling on the shoulders of the initial clinicians who meet the patient to determine. Or send them onwards. And onwards again. Complexity, unpredictability, and inefficiency abound.

Our current healthcare system was designed to respond to a small number of diseases and treat them in silos. This is further supported by clinician training which occurs in a specific discipline and speciality, not designed for integration or the complex and unpredictable reality we now face in patient care.

So how do we redesign the healthcare system to address complexity and unpredictability?

Our patients, knowledge, and practice have changed. So have the infrastructure and tools available to us. 

What if we had a healthcare system that could configure a care plan tailored to a patient, on demand, across silos, considering all known diseases, symptoms, and systems? We could, using AI.

For example, Betsy presents to her doctor with symptoms that relate to her neurologic, cardiac, respiratory, and GI systems. Let’s use AI to map, prioritize, and select the resources required to systematically, logically, and efficiently investigate and understand Betsy’s issues and needs.  

The healthcare system gets personalized to Betsy and her needs. The system reconfigures the value chain, one patient at a time. The doctor, administrative staff, and other clinicians interpret and support the plans with human judgment and touch. And still have more time to do the valuable relational work of being with and supporting the patient.

The AI can understand which doctors best see which patients. AI can know their availability. Can schedule appointments with Betsy. Can generate referrals for the imaging and tests she’ll need, where and how to get them, and schedule those too.

AI can brief the specialist. Reviewing her labs, imaging, and narrative describing her journey from her perspective. Once the specialist completes the consultation, their notes will be in Betsy's single unified patient record, which all professionals on her team can access. Does another specialist need to be seen? Were they already? Is there integration that needs to happen between the two? AI can integrate and facilitate that as well.

This sounds like a dream. But does it have to be?

What to do next

At RCM Health we have been envisioning and implementing innovative tailored solutions for complexity for decades. When the world changes, we have to keep up.

We are dedicated to always finding the best for our valued clients.

If you or a family member are facing a complex diagnosis, RCM Health can review your care and make sure nothing is missed. A medical second opinion can confirm whether the plan is the right one.

Or call 647-350-5500 to speak with our team

Raymond Rupert | CEO

RCM Health Consultancy Inc.

647-350-5500 | info@rcmhealth.ca | rcmhealth.ca

This newsletter is for general information only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Decisions about your care should be made in consultation with your treating physician.