Intelligent Document Processing in Healthcare

Data in the healthcare industry is growing exponentially as every touchpoint between doctors, healthcare providers, and patients is generating valuable information. The healthcare industry generates around 30% of the world's data volume. The industry is expanding its digital capabilities. However, healthcare data comes in a variety of forms in structured and unstructured manners. Given the size of the industry and its criticality in our daily life, the healthcare sector must ace up its data processing techniques. This is where Intelligent document processing in the healthcare industry becomes prominent.

 

Manual processes and documentation may lead to human errors and inefficiencies, delaying patient care and increasing costs. A survey states that 86% of errors made in the healthcare industry are administrative. Intelligent document processing can eliminate these errors and maximize productivity in document processing with extra mileage in revenue and efficiency. To get started, know-how on its utilization, benefits, and technologies around IDP in healthcare is necessary. Scroll down to find out more. 

What is Intelligent Document processing (IDP):

Intelligent Document processing automatically extracts structured or unstructured data from simple/complex file layouts, classifying and converting them into structured, usable data formats without much human intervention.

Most of the data generated by healthcare providers is unstructured. The most common forms of unstructured data in healthcare are clinical notes, handwritten prescriptions, problem lists, discharge summaries, and radiology reports.

Eliminate human errors and streamline the processing of these unstructured healthcare documents with IDP solutions. With inherent usage of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Machine learning (ML), Optical character recognition (OCR), and Computer Vision algorithms in IDP, efficiency and accuracy follow.

IDP provides optimal operational efficiency in document processing by using the following technologies.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR): 

The automation process starts when the prescription or report or any other unstructured data is screened through using the Saxon’s IDP solution. OCR technology has the capability to automatically extract data from recognized medical documents and process them by using key identifiers like date, patient name, consulting doctor name, along with diagnosis they are suffering from. It uses preset templates to gather data from documents.

Computer Vision algorithms:

OCR in IDP has limited ability when processing unstructured text like handwritten text, non-standard fonts and poor radiology reports. Manually reviewing these unstructured documents was necessary before, but with computer vision algorithms the human in the loop dependency is further reduced and the limitations of OCR were better addressed. It possesses the ability to understand the patterns in complex documents, identify the data using predictive algorithms, without much manual intervention needed.

Natural Language Processing (NLP):

As unstructured documents are usually native and don't follow any predefined data model. Understanding the key entities is challenging, mainly when humans are involved.

But with the use of NLP in IDP, decoding the human transcript and extracting data is an activity of seconds. The technologies involved like Named Entity Recognition (NER) and sentiment analytics can easily locate and extract named entities. It enhances the data utilization in unstructured healthcare documents.

Machine learning (ML):

ML algorithms in IDP can recognize relevant information and validate the extracted data based on the predefined rules. It helps in understanding the patterns and validation of health care reports. The exacted data after validation is flagged out for human intervention and the left over are recorded in hospitals’ internal patient information storage systems by providing 99 % accuracy. 

Below will help you find out more about IDP use cases and benefits.

Use cases of IDP in healthcare:

Patient Onboarding:

Onboarding a patient requires processing multiple documents, including the patient's intake forms, identity and insurance cards, prescriptions, and referrals. Validating and manually entering this data into EMR systems is time-consuming, confusing, and involves risk.

Healthcare professionals using IDP can automate these incoming documents processing, eliminate human errors, and help in efficient patient intake.

Automating patient records:
Reports generated are three types: Medical, administrative, and legal. Medical documents deal with the patient's medical history and diagnosis plan. Administrative documents can track a patient's insurance plans and billing, whereas legal documents go in the event of a malpractice lawsuit.

However, clinical documents are the most important, as they form the basis of patient care. Manual processing of these documents may lead to errors and incorrect patient treatment. Using advanced technology and sentimental analytics, IDP captures the essential data from their clinical report and makes it readily available for Physicians to provide tailored service. It can increase the process efficiency and productivity of the team. 

Medical Billing:

Intelligent document processing can regulate the billing process with more accuracy, efficiency and on time. Medical practitioners need not go through every single document manually to understand the billing structure and details mentioned.

With IDP, all the important reports are made readily available. It can automatically identify patient records within documents, compare them with treatment plans and regulate the process. Auto-billing helps in improving accuracy by automatic error detection and immediate rescue process.

‍Claims management:

Having a lot of claims documents to be processed and working on manually is risky and time-consuming. We know that prolonged repetitive tasks can often lead to human errors due to reduced attention. In contrast, AI and ML algorithms learn from past errors and can manage repetitive tasks, ensuring the accuracy of automating hospitals' claims process.

With Intelligent claims processing, hospitals can streamline their end-to-end process, increase the speed and eliminate errors. It also helps with integrated communication platforms, allowing real-time claim status updates and requirements.

Benefits IDP offers for healthcare:

Increases Operational efficiency:

Automating high-volume patient reports quickly and accurately can increase a hospital's operational productivity. It also enhances patient care by integrating digitalized documents with EHR systems and providing easy accessibility to medical data in seconds.

Reduced Human errors:

Manual processing of bills and medical claims are prone to errors. Cognitive automation in document processing can minimize the risk associated with transcription, misplaced information, or any other mistakes that could impact patient care and billing accuracy.

Faster Data Access:

IDP can process unstructured and semi-structured patient reports and classify and maintain them in structured, usable document formats. The solution makes clinical information readily available, which improves decision-making and patient care coordination.

Enhanced Patient care:

By automating administrative tasks with IDP, healthcare professionals can spend most of their time providing tailored patient service. It can lead to improved patient experience and better outcomes.

Intelligent document processing can transform the landscape of the healthcare industry. By actively leveraging the Power of AI and automation, healthcare organizations can streamline their operations, enhance accuracy in data management, and allocate more time to patient care. Hospitals can now derive actionable insights from the massive volume of complex data they generate daily, reduce errors, and improve workflow operations using IDP.

Are you looking for a tech partner to guide you in automating your claim and medical reports? Look no further. We at Saxon AI offer the best-tailored services according to your industry-specific needs, get in touch with the experts and find out more about how we can help.