Understanding AI Workflows for Acute and Chronic Disease Management: A Strategic Guide As we stand on the brink of transformative healthcare shifts, leveraging AI in workflows for acute and chronic disease management can redefine patient care pathways, improving both access and outcomes. Yet, a strategic and structured approach is essential. Below, I’ll outline key steps […]

If AI is rapidly transforming many sectors of our economy… why is it not revolutionizing surgery? I had this question raised to me at the Health 2.0 Conference held recently in Las Vegas. In reality, where it is correctly applied, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has indeed been transforming the surgical marketplace for years. How has AI […]

This article recently came across my feed on LinkedIn and offers a perspective that many in healthcare should take a look at. In it, Dike Drummond MD offers some key insights into the state of AI for employed physicians. It offers some salient warnings if you are considering taking your first steps into clinical AI […]

The Purpose Behind Ownership in Healthcare Are You an Owner or a Renter in Healthcare? Deciding now is important because healthcare, particularly surgical care, is at a crossroads. Surgeons and physicians are facing an unprecedented level of burnout, frustration, and disillusionment. At the heart of this crisis is a fundamental question: Why are we in […]

Abstract Objective: This study aims to address the inefficiencies in traditional pathways for chronic sinusitis management assessing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) based business process used in surgical triage, enhancing patient care. Data Sources: Data from a novel Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, utilizing AI algorithms and multimodal communication, including SMS, […]

This question recently came up in an online forum I am on: … I’m strongly considering swapping from Dragon to an AI scribe after my colleague showed me what she was using. It seemed faster than I could dictate, and it captured some key history information better than I could remember (I tend to max […]

Refining the process of surgical referrals is a common discussion I have with other surgeons. Referrals remain a pivotal means of attracting new patients. Yet, historically, they have also been manipulated by larger hospital systems as leverage over independent surgeons, pressuring them into selling their practices with the threat of losing this business. It’s essential […]

QUESTION I have started to receive a tremendous amount of denials for OPTUM patients that I see and perform a stroboscopy on the same day. The letters from the company deny my E/M and pay for stroboscopy, stating that the E/M falls under the global period for the procedure. Interestingly, the global period for stroboscopy […]

CAN THERE BE DIRECT PAY “HAPPINESS” WITHOUT THE NEED TO CUT YOURSELF OFF FROM INSURED PATIENTS? As specialists increasingly encounter administrative burdens, excessive patient volumes, and prior authorization challenges that hinder patient care, many wonder if transitioning to a direct pay model is a viable solution. Could this shift alleviate burnout and enhance professional satisfaction? […]

HOW TO COMPETE AGAINST SOLO, GROUP PRACTICES, AND REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THIS ERA OF HEALTHCARE (Ex)pertise What surgery do you want to be known for in your region? (P)atients What better strategies can you use to effectively find your ideal patient? (E)ngagement How can you better become the preferred choice for patients? (R)epeatability How […]

Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM) 2024 At this year’s COSM in Chicago, I had the pleasure of engaging with many medical device executives and thought leaders in surgery to discuss the ethical use of AI to mitigate prior authorization denials. It is a timely topic as 86% of physicians now identify prior authorizations as a […]

The Challenge of Automated AI Denials Automated AI denials in surgical prior authorizations have become a pressing issue in healthcare. Initially intended to streamline and enhance the efficiency of prior authorizations, AI systems like Cigna’s PxDx and UnitedHealth’s “nh Predict” have led to an increased rate of denials. While these systems were designed to expedite […]