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Customer Experience and Design

Can “Watson” fix organizations as well as patients?

The future of Watson looks promising. Word is out that WellPoint has hired Dr. Watson to help physicians cure the ill. Watson has the ability to run patient information against medical information from multiple sources to provide feedback on diagnoses and treatment options. This powerhouse of information is exactly what the healthcare industry has been looking for as standards change from paper records to electronic health records (EHRs), diagnosis codes get an update and government mandates focus on improving quality and decreasing costs.

If any industry could properly test the abilities of Watson, it’s the healthcare industry. The healthcare industry is known for being plagued with not only massive amounts of data but also siloed data. Therefore, organizations must overcome certain hurdles, such as EHRs, 4010/5010 conversion and ICD-9/10 code set updates, before they can utilize powerful options such as Dr. Watson. However, after they have completed these tasks, the playing field changes for both the patient and the provider. First, the provider has access to patient-specific information thanks to the algorithms Watson has stored. Second, the patient has access to treatment options and statistics tailored to their situation. Finally, organizations have real-time access information to patients diagnoses, patient treatment options and prefered treatments. This type of information is critical to organizations, because it can come into play in recruiting and training of personnel as well as medical device purchases and provider training.

Dr. Watson is a machine that enpowers everyone involved in the healthcare process. Utilizing it will reap rewards and influence decision-makers on all levels of the industry and encourage the use of other healthcare initatives such as social media, hand-held devices, telemedicine and remote monitoring. I have one message for Dr. Watson, “Welcome, I believe your new home has the potential to utilize you well.”

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