In healthcare, every second matters, and yet, many challenges continue to slow down the process. From managing vast amounts of patient data to ensuring that patients follow up on their treatments, healthcare professionals are under immense pressure.

That’s where agentic AI in healthcare steps in. This technology is making a real difference by allowing systems to take over repetitive tasks, make decisions on the fly, and ultimately help clinicians focus more on their patients.

In this blog, we’ll explore how agentic AI in healthcare is making a difference—from improving diagnostic accuracy to streamlining post-discharge care.

Agentic AI in Healthcare: A Transformational Shift

Agentic AI refers to systems that can autonomously execute tasks and make decisions based on data without constant human oversight. In healthcare, this type of AI is becoming a powerful tool for improving clinical decision-making, enhancing patient care, and reducing administrative burdens.

At the core of this transformation is the ability to drive decision-making, optimize workflows, and create value with minimal human intervention. This is where Ema is harnessing the power of Agentic AI to streamline operations and enhance accuracy.

Ema’s unique approach, particularly through its EmaFusion™ and Generative Workflow Engine (GWE), brings Agentic AI into business operations by enabling automated workflows that learn and evolve.

EmaFusion™ serves as the engine behind the scenes, integrating data from various sources and ensuring that decisions made by the AI are as accurate as possible.

Meanwhile, the Generative Workflow Engine makes it possible to build automated workflows that continuously adapt to meet changing business needs.

As healthcare systems become more complex, integrating automation with flexibility and adaptability is paramount. Ema's Agentic Business Automation (ABA) is a perfect example of this integration. ABA goes beyond traditional automation by incorporating learning algorithms and AI agents that adapt to new challenges without the need for human intervention.

But what are the biggest pain points in healthcare today? Let’s look at the key challenges that medical professionals face daily.

Healthcare Concerns Where Humans Need Support

In the healthcare industry, professionals face many challenges that limit their effectiveness in delivering optimal patient care. Despite their expertise, human limitations in managing high patient volumes, administrative tasks, and data overload create hurdles that need addressing. Let’s explore these concerns in more detail:

• Physician Burnout: Long hours, overwhelming administrative duties, and emotional stress contribute to physician burnout. This strain leads to decreased job satisfaction, which ultimately impacts patient care. Physicians who experience burnout are more likely to make errors or miss crucial diagnostic details.
• Administrative Overload: Physicians spend significant time on administrative tasks rather than patient care. A study by the American College of Physicians found that 49% of doctors' time is spent on administrative tasks like charting and billing, leaving little time for patient interaction.
• Diagnostic Errors: Diagnostic errors account for a significant portion of medical mistakes. A study published in JAMA estimated that diagnostic errors contribute to 10% of patient deaths in the U.S. These errors are often caused by clinicians missing subtle patterns in data, imaging, or patient histories, which can delay treatment or correct diagnoses.
• Patient Engagement: Ensuring that patients follow treatment plans and attend follow-up appointments remains a challenge. Research published in The Journal of Clinical Psychology found that 50% of patients with chronic conditions do not adhere to prescribed treatment regimens, resulting in increased hospital readmission rates.
• Data Management: With the rise of electronic health records (EHRs), managing and safeguarding vast amounts of sensitive patient data has become a significant challenge. Inefficient data management can lead to security breaches, slow access to patient records, and missed opportunities for proactive care, compromising patient safety.​

To overcome these challenges, healthcare systems need intelligent automation. Agentic AI offers solutions that support both clinicians and patients. Let’s take a look.

How Agentic AI Solves These Problems

Agentic AI can significantly alleviate these concerns by automating processes and enhancing decision-making, which frees up human resources for more critical tasks. With its ability to process vast amounts of data and perform repetitive tasks, AI acts as a valuable support system for healthcare professionals. Here's how it helps:

• Alleviating Physician Burnout: Conversational AI-powered assistants automate routine tasks such as documentation and scheduling. For instance, Microsoft's Dragon Copilot utilizes voice-dictating and ambient listening technologies to streamline clinical documentation, reducing the administrative burden on clinicians.
• Reducing Administrative Burden: AI-driven systems can handle tasks like billing, coding, and claims processing, minimizing errors and administrative costs. A study by the Healthcare Financial Management Association showed that automating coding procedures with AI reduced coding errors by 80%, increasing hospital revenue and streamlining operations.
• Improving Diagnostic Accuracy: AI algorithms can process vast amounts of medical data, such as lab results and medical images, to identify patterns and assist clinicians in diagnosing conditions.

Source: LinkedIn Post by Margaretta Colangelo discusses how AI detects Cancer better than radiologists.

For example, Google's DeepMind AI has achieved an accuracy rate of 94.6% in detecting breast cancer from mammograms, outperforming radiologists in certain tests. This provides an additional layer of support to clinicians, especially in high-pressure environments.

• Boosting Patient Engagement: AI-powered systems can engage patients by sending them reminders, providing feedback on their health progress, and offering educational resources. For example, Livongo Health uses AI to monitor blood glucose levels and offer real-time feedback to patients, improving compliance with treatment plans.​
• Optimizing Data Management: AI-powered data management systems securely process and analyze large datasets in real-time. AI applications like Google's Cloud Healthcare API help hospitals manage EHRs by automating the organization of patient records, ensuring that critical information is easy to access and up-to-date.​

By addressing these critical areas, Agentic AI is already reshaping healthcare delivery. But what does this look like in real-world settings? Let’s examine some AI-driven success stories.

Agentic AI Driving Improvements in Healthcare ​

Real-world applications of Agentic AI are already transforming healthcare systems worldwide. Below are some notable case studies that demonstrate its effectiveness in solving critical healthcare challenges:

Post-Discharge Care: Lumeris's AI Agent, Tom

Lumeris has developed "Tom," an AI-driven care team member integrated into clinical workflows to enhance primary care services. Operating 24/7 within clinical workflows, Tom autonomously performs tasks such as scheduling screenings, monitoring medication adherence, and delivering personalized patient education.

After patients are discharged from the hospital, Tom also initiates follow-up communications to monitor recovery progress and address any concerns, aiming to reduce readmission rates. This AI solution addresses the significant gap in primary care accessibility, especially considering that 100 million Americans currently lack access to a primary care provider.

Physiotherapy Services: AI Physiotherapist "Kirsty" in Scotland

In Scotland, NHS Lothian has introduced an AI-powered virtual physiotherapist named "Kirsty" to address back pain and alleviate NHS waiting times. Developed by Flok Health, Kirsty offers same-day, automated video appointments through a smartphone app.

Source: LinkedIn Post by John Guanjing Zhang elaborates on how Kristy operates.

During these sessions, Kirsty assesses patients' conditions and provides personalized exercise routines and pain management advice. A pilot program involving over 1,000 NHS staff demonstrated positive feedback, with 97% receiving automated triage outcomes and 92% immediately approved for AI physiotherapy sessions.

With these advancements, Agentic AI is proving to be an essential tool in making healthcare more accessible, efficient, and responsive to patient needs.

But where else can this technology be applied? Let’s explore the latest healthcare trends where AI is proving indispensable.

Healthcare Trends Where Agentic AI Proves Optimal

Agentic AI is proving essential in addressing emerging healthcare trends, offering solutions that are scalable, efficient, and adaptable to a range of challenges:

• Telemedicine: The rise of telemedicine has increased the demand for AI-powered tools that can manage virtual consultations, automate patient intake, and ensure smooth follow-up care. AI systems like virtual assistants automate scheduling and provide real-time answers. A 2023 study found that AI improves the quality and accessibility of virtual consultations.
• Aging Population: The World Health Organization projects that the global population of people aged 60 years and older will double by 2050. AI-driven tools can monitor patients' health metrics, send reminders for medication, and even predict potential health declines.
• Personalized Medicine: AI is key in advancing the analysis of patient data, including genetic and lifestyle factors, to recommend individualized treatment plans. This approach in oncology helps, where treatments are tailored to the genetic makeup of both the patient and the tumor. Harvard's Personalized Medicine Institute explores how AI is driving this shift in cancer care.
• Predictive Healthcare: AI's ability to predict future health outcomes is being used to anticipate disease outbreaks, predict patient admissions, and guide resource and patient management. By utilizing AI models to predict health trends, healthcare systems can allocate resources effectively and intervene earlier in high-risk cases.
• Robotic Surgery: AI plays a critical role in enhancing robotic surgery. Systems like Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci surgical robots use AI to assist surgeons in performing delicate operations with precision. These systems reduce recovery times, minimize complications, and improve surgical outcomes.

These trends highlight that AI is already shaping the future of healthcare.​

Conclusion

The potential of agentic AI in healthcare is undeniable. It’s not about replacing healthcare professionals but about making their work more effective by automating tasks and offering data-driven insights. Whether it's improving patient outcomes or reducing administrative workloads, agentic AI in healthcare is transforming the way healthcare is delivered.

If you’re ready to see how intelligent automation can work for you, Ema’s solutions might be just what you need. With tools like the Generative Workflow Engine and EmaFusion™, Ema is helping businesses across industries streamline operations and work smarter. Hire Ema today and discover how agentic AI can improve your workflows.​