Timeline
2024, 4 months
Overview
100ms developed an AI-driven pre-procedure assistant to optimize operating room (OR) utilization, reduce cancellations, and improve patient management without increasing staff requirements. The solution was designed to address the high operational demands of healthcare providers by offering automated, conversational AI agents capable of handling scheduling, perioperative management, and post-op discharge.
My Role
Led the design and development of a pre-procedure assistant for healthcare, utilizing AI to streamline scheduling, patient management, and clinical workflows.
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The Challenge
Healthcare providers face significant challenges in efficiently managing pre-operative procedures, with issues such as:
Maximizing OR Utilization
Ensuring patients are scheduled and prepared optimally to minimize downtime and improve resource utilization.
Reducing Cancellations
Avoiding last-minute cancellations through proactive management and communication.
Addressing Staff Shortages
Providing high-quality patient care with limited staff, requiring automation to handle repetitive administrative tasks.
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Design Goals
Proactive Automation
Enable AI-driven agents to perform routine tasks such as scheduling calls, reminders, and patient education, ensuring high engagement and consistency.
Streamlined User Experience
Create a single peri-operative management hub that integrates scheduling, patient communication, and real-time insights.
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Designing Proactive Conversational AI Agents
Developed an interface for AI agents capable of handling scheduling, surgical coordination, and discharge processes end-to-end. These agents could answer calls 24/7 with no hold times, addressing high patient volumes without additional staff.
The agents also provided proactive reminders and educational calls, reducing patient anxiety and ensuring they were informed throughout the process.
See a demo of how our conversational agents can help streamline the process:
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Single Peri-Operative Management Hub
Designed a centralized hub where healthcare providers could view detailed insights on drop-offs, cancellations, and overall patient flow.
Integrated a customizable interface that adapted to different practice setups—single or multiple locations, specific scheduling restrictions, and configurable appointment settings.
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Optimizing OR Utilization through AI
Introduced a workflow that included key steps: scheduling, pre-operative checks (such as anesthesia and prior health history), and patient discharge coordination.
The AI assistant analyzed patient records to optimize scheduling and ensure that each patient was adequately prepared for their procedure, helping providers make the most of OR availability.
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The pre-procedure assistant provided a comprehensive solution for managing high-volume healthcare environments with an emphasis on automation and user-centric design:
Proactive Scheduling and Coordination
AI agents could handle complex scheduling calls, coordinate with OR and anesthesia teams, and fill out EHRs with critical information.
Customized for Each Practice
Fully customizable to accommodate multiple hubs or restrict appointments to certain days, the system allowed healthcare providers to deploy it seamlessly in any setting.
Enhanced Communication and Patient Management
The AI assistant maintained open lines of communication with patients, handling pre-procedure education, reminders, and follow-ups to reduce anxiety and prevent no-shows.
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Outcome
Increased OR Utilization: By optimizing scheduling and pre-op checks, the assistant helped facilities improve OR usage rates, maximizing healthcare resources.
Reduced Cancellation Rates: Proactive communication and scheduling reminders led to fewer last-minute cancellations, allowing for more efficient use of time and resources.
Improved Staff Efficiency: AI-driven classification and routing of messages reduced the administrative burden on staff, allowing them to focus on more critical tasks and improving workflow efficiency.
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Reflection
Designing the 100ms Healthcare AI Pre-Procedure Assistant deepened my experience in creating user-centered AI solutions for healthcare. This project taught me how to build trust in AI-driven automation, simplify complex workflows, and design for high-stress, high-demand environments. I’m eager to apply these skills to further elevate AI’s role in streamlining operations and enhancing patient care.
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