Picture this, you are just about to agree to an invasive surgery that may have life-altering consequences, however, you are bombarded with medical jargon and confusing procedure processes. This communication gap between patients and surgeons can be stressful, leading to poor decision-making and affecting surgical outcomes. As the patient, it is not your job to understand the entirety of any surgical treatment, however having as much an in-depth understanding as possible can put your mind at ease, and also support educated decision-making when it comes to the procedure. The truth is that humans alone have struggled to overcome some communication barriers, and technology is now stepping in to fill in the gaps.
Traditionally, communication relied on face-to-face consultations. While these are crucial, time constraints and complex medical terms can leave patients feeling overwhelmed. Here’s how things are changing:
1. Personalised Learning Before Surgery
Forget mundane, traditional pamphlets to send patients home with. Now, surgeons can harness the power of AI and the digital world to create a personalised patient experience. From 3D models of surgical before and after diagrams, to infographics highlighting the risks tailored to the patient’s specific treatment, complex treatments can be visually interpreted through AI’s advancements, making the patient’s experience much more informed. Patients can learn at their own pace about the procedure, and this also paves the way for inclusivity for patients who may not be adept at reading pages of medical jargon.
2. Data-Driven Decisions, Together
Surgical decisions involve weighing risks and benefits against your unique needs. Imagine AI analysing vast amounts of medical data, including research papers and past surgical outcomes for similar patients. This empowers the surgeons to generate personalised risk assessments and treatment options with success rates specific to you. Taking into account a patient’s medical history, and physical data, they can weigh up the risk factors associated with their desired treatments. With this data at their fingertips, surgeons can present various approaches, clearly explaining the potential pros and cons of each. This collaborative environment allows the patient to ask questions and actively participate in choosing the right path for their health.
3. Support Beyond the Operating Room
Recovery is one of the most crucial parts of any form of surgical operation. Before the digital age, patients would have to go home with a set of instructions and make individual decisions as to whether their symptoms are normal, or require a check-up appointment to ensure their safety. Now, using the power of AI, surgeons can create their very own online recovery platform, to which patients can log their symptoms, and also have 24/7 access to postoperative care instructions. But that’s not all! It can also analyse your responses and flag potential concerns for your surgeon, like unexpected pain levels. This allows for proactive intervention, ensuring a smoother recovery.
4. Breaking Down Language Barriers
People travel to all corners of the earth to find the right surgeon for them. With this, several non-native speakers are faced with the problem of communication with their surgeon of choice. They might trust their work, but communicating the procedure effectively has not always been successful, until now. AI can offer real-time language translations during consultations, meaning there is no need to hire an expensive translator for surgeon/ patient interactions. Of course, having a translator is always a valuable option, however, AI still allows for clear communication and ensures important information is not lost in translation. Surgeons need to make sure that their non-native-speaking patients feel confident, clear and comfortable with the treatment process, and AI breaks down any room for confusion.
Building Trust and Understanding
Technology isn’t meant to replace surgeons, nor would we like to see this happen. Instead, it is a powerful tool that helps them communicate better, and systemise the admin that supports patients through their treatment process. By leveraging these tools, surgeons can dedicate more time to personalised consultations. This fosters a collaborative environment where you feel empowered to ask questions and be an active participant in your care. Imagine an online platform, stored with the knowledge of the surgeon whilst using digital diagrams to visualise the procedure and answer any questions that arise in real time. This not only empowers you but also allows the surgeon to tailor their explanations based on your understanding.
The Benefits of Open Communication
Open communication leads to several benefits for both patients and surgeons:
Increased Patient Satisfaction: Feeling empowered and informed reduces anxiety and fosters trust in the surgeon and the surgical plan. Trusted surgeons such as Kshem Yapa understand the value of providing patients with a complete and comprehensive insight into their treatment of choice. Patient satisfaction is the key to any thriving surgery and expands the credibility of any growing practice.
Reduced Anxiety and Stress: As with any form of invasive surgery, stress and anxiety can arise. However, clear communication and in-depth patient understanding can reduce anxiety when it comes to their appointment. Putting patient’s minds at ease is the best thing any surgeon can do, and effective communication is the only way to achieve this. AI opens up the door of opportunity and offers patients a hub to ask any questions and have them answered in real time, as opposed to waiting for a response during back-to-back appointments.
Enhanced Patient Engagement: When you understand your care plan, you’re more likely to follow post-operative instructions and actively participate in your recovery. This translates to better long-term health outcomes.
The Human Touch Still Matters
While technology has immense potential, patient data privacy and security remain paramount. Additionally, the human touch and empathy surgeons bring to patient interactions are irreplaceable. The ideal scenario is a seamless integration of communication tools within a patient-centred, empathetic surgical environment. Surgeons can utilise technology to streamline communication tasks and free up time for more personalised interactions, building trust and rapport with their patients.
Empowered Patients, Better Outcomes
The future of health and AI lies within our ability to harness its power in areas that will improve patient experience, whilst meaning the empathic, humanised approach that keeps patients confident and comfortable with their procedures. This translates to better surgical experiences and improved healthcare outcomes for everyone. For surgeons looking to expand their desirability and exposure to clients, AI can be a great tool to improve your communication, and also read a wider audience. Embracing your digital scope within your practice goes beyond the machines and tools. Patient experience can be positively improved , and your credibility amongst the world of surgery will be recognised by all.