How AI has the Power to Transform Health Care and Health Benefits
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on July 12, 2024
How AI has the Power to Transform Health Care and Health Benefits
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on July 12, 2024
"With the increasing availability of health-care data and the rapid progress in analytic techniques — whether machine learning, logic-based or statistical — AI tools could transform the health sector.” - World Health Organization
Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to as AI, is perhaps the hottest topic of discussion today with the rise of technologies like ChatGPT thrusting it into the spotlight. The transformative power of AI tools for health care, in particular, has industry leaders excited by their potential to enhance the patient experience, improve staff experience, improve population health, lower the cost of care, and advance health equity.
“AI is a complete game changer. It offers so many solutions to common problems — as long as we come to it with good intention and awareness of risk.” - Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, Head of Critical Care, Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Kyeremanteng served on a panel of experts assembled by Medavie Blue Cross for our annual tri-city Benefits Together conference this spring in Halifax, Toronto, and Montreal. Panelists shared how technology, data, and AI advancements will catalyze industry change, giving rise to new ecosystems that will enable a more holistic approach to patient health, in addition to security and privacy considerations that will be top of mind for stakeholders in 2024 and beyond.
The market volume of AI in health care is projected to increase from $14.6 billion to $102.7 billion by 2028. - World Economic Forum
Panelists discussed how new technologies are improving diagnostics and treatment, system navigation, access to care, and the plan member and patient experience. They also emphasized the importance of building a governance model around the use of AI to determine prioritization, investment, and risk.
“At Medavie Blue Cross, we are focusing our exploration on using these technologies to enhance our user experiences (both client and employees) and to create efficiencies to back-office processes, freeing more time for value-added human interactions.” - Tammy Conistis, VP, Digital Transformation Office and Digital Direct, Medavie
The market volume of AI in health care is projected to increase from $14.6 billion to $102.7 billion by 2028. - World Economic Forum
Panelists discussed how new technologies are improving diagnostics and treatment, system navigation, access to care, and the plan member and patient experience. They also emphasized the importance of building a governance model around the use of AI to determine prioritization, investment, and risk.
“At Medavie Blue Cross, we are focusing our exploration on using these technologies to enhance our user experiences (both client and employees) and to create efficiencies to back-office processes, freeing more time for value-added human interactions.” - Tammy Conistis, VP, Digital Transformation Office and Digital Direct, Medavie
AI-powered solutions
sanoMidLife
Applications of AI at Medavie Blue Cross include Canada’s first benefit solution to support women navigating menopause. sanoMidLife is comprised of a comprehensive health assessment, AI-powered virtual assistant and health coaching program designed to empower women to thrive at midlife by helping them understand the symptoms of menopause and the solutions available to them.
Medavie Blue Cross has partnered with sanoLiving, to offer this one-of-a-kind solution exclusively to our plan members.
“Unfortunately, there's little awareness about menopause and its impact on women's workplace productivity. sanoLiving offers continuous, personalized solutions to help women manage their symptoms, making it a smart economic and caring decision for employers.” - Angela Johnson, founder and CEO of sanoLiving
The sanoAssessment and sano Chat Bot are complimentary to all Medavie Blue Cross members. The sanoMidlife Program is a paid service available for reimbursement through our Health Coaching and Chronic Disease Management benefit and/or a Health Spending Account.
Total 360 Care
Another solution we offer as part of this benefit is Total 360 Care, a customized care program that leverages AI technology and individual health coaching to empower plan members to manage diabetes, hypertension, and weight management challenges. Our partner, Ellerca Health, is the developer behind a proprietary platform. The 360 Total Care app combines data-gathering technology and AI-enhanced analytics with online access to clinical care counselors. The program provides members with behavioural health coaching, on-demand resources, remote monitoring, digital health tools and mobile app access.
In one pilot study, patients with diabetes who used this AI-powered platform saw an average HbA1c reduction of 1.5 points after six months, compared to 0.5 points in the control group. Importantly, physicians reported spending 30% less time on routine follow-up, freeing them up to provide more high-value care.
“Ellerca Health is based on our AI-powered platform, which we call “Conversational Intelligence for Care Delivery”. It enables us to understand each person's entire medical journey, and provides personalized, precise support at every stage. Beyond data confidentiality, our AI models focus on ensuring fairness and non-discrimination to avoid personal/human bias.” - Patrick Gauthier, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, Ellerca Health
Looking ahead, panelists agreed that AI will continue to revolutionize health care and health benefits as new technologies emerge, leading to more personalized, efficient, and evidence-based care. To leverage these technologies effectively and securely, Medavie Blue Cross will remain vigilant in protecting our data, investing in talent to enhance our expertise, developing strategies to stay ahead of change, forming partnerships to expand our digital health offering, and creating a digital-first culture.
Connect with your Medavie Blue Cross representative to learn more about our AI-powered solutions.
Looking ahead, panelists agreed that AI will continue to revolutionize health care and health benefits as new technologies emerge, leading to more personalized, efficient, and evidence-based care. To leverage these technologies effectively and securely, Medavie Blue Cross will remain vigilant in protecting our data, investing in talent to enhance our expertise, developing strategies to stay ahead of change, forming partnerships to expand our digital health offering, and creating a digital-first culture.
Connect with your Medavie Blue Cross representative to learn more about our AI-powered solutions.
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...