Using Machine Learning to Improve Operational Efficiency for Healthcare Providers

Operating an efficient healthcare system is a challenging but highly rewarding endeavor. As discussed in Chapter 3, healthcare systems are recognized for better care quality and saving costs. An efficient healthcare system innovates and focuses its time on improving patient care while reducing the time spent on repeatable operational tasks. It allows providers to focus on their core competency – taking care of patients – and reduce distractions that prevent them from doing this.

Patients in many places today have choices between multiple healthcare providers. The more patients a hospital is able to treat, the better it is so it can meet its revenue goals and remain profitable. However, a high volume of patients doesn’t always equate to a high quality of care, so it’s critical to strike a balance.

There are multiple areas of optimization in a healthcare workflow. Some...