5-step AI plan to reduce doctor queues: Already working in US, UK

Artificial intelligence offers a five-step plan to help reduce queues at medical facilities, a system already in use in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. While AI cannot create more doctors, it can significantly improve the utilization of existing medical resources.

Tomas Naščišonis, CEO of AI technology company GoAGI, explains that AI assists in better resource management, more accurate demand forecasting, and directing patients to the most needed services. This multi-faceted approach, rather than a single algorithm, leads to shorter waiting times. The first step involves predicting patient flow. AI, using statistical models and machine learning, can forecast expected patient numbers based on the day of the week, time of year, and even weather forecasts, drawing from historical data. The UK's NHS, for example, uses such a tool trained on seasonal health data and weather predictions to anticipate potential surges and prepare accordingly.

The second step focuses on optimizing appointment schedules. AI can redistribute available time slots to minimize gaps and overlaps. Major U.S. hospitals are already implementing AI-driven appointment scheduling optimization, with pilot projects showing double-digit reductions in waiting times in specific clinics. The effectiveness, however, varies depending on the specific process and organization.

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It helps to better utilize existing resources, predict demand more accurately, and direct patients where they need help the most. Therefore, queues shorten not because of one algorithm, but because of several solutions working together.

Third, AI can help manage appointment no-shows. AI systems can identify patients likely to miss appointments, allowing for timely reminders or intelligent rescheduling to offer the slot to another patient. A study in the United Arab Emirates found that implementing an AI-based no-show prediction system reduced the probability of patients not showing up by 57%, and the actual no-show rate by over 50%.

Finally, and perhaps most crucially for reducing specialist queues, AI can prioritize and manage referrals. AI can assess a patient's symptoms to direct them to the most appropriate specialist or suggest alternative safe solutions, such as consultations with nurses, pharmacists, or remote doctor visits. This ensures that specialists' time is allocated to patients who require it most.

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AI can identify patients who are likely to miss their appointments in advance and allow either reminding them in advance or intelligently rescheduling that time for another patient.