Digital Workforce combine artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) – a simple and powerful automation software that enables organisations to create their own digital workers to automate any business process. These “digital workers” are configurable software set up to perform the tasks as per organisations needs.
Based on a 2019 market research report by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the authors predict that the global RPA in the healthcare market will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of above 20% during the forecast period till 2025. The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth rate due to the increasing customer base for large enterprises. As organisations continue to grow and managing huge customers becomes a difficulty, RPA can benefit the healthcare sector to rely on desktop automation for some basic to complex repetitive workflows.
It was observed that the RPA within the group seem to be at its infancy – some just started a few months into RPA projects while most are still evaluating or considering which types of implementation would help their processes and workflow. But one thing is for sure every organisation at some point thinking about it.
Broadly usefulness and application of RPA in the healthcare setting can be divided into three categories:Improving workforce productivity;
Enhancing patient experience
Enhancing the efficient use of existing digital health technologies;
Challenges and concerns with RPA implementation
Beyond financial costs and ROI, other factors like the total number of hours saved for a particular process and redeploying staff for higher value work should also be considered. A process assessment tool can be used to create a process map that looks at what is easy to implement with high impact.
Apart from benefits of RPA implementation, there are still concerns about whether the technology will work well in the healthcare setting. For example, nurses are concerned if RPA will be able to ensure patient safety – when nurses are busy going about their daily tasks, will RPA be able to keep track of patients’ conditions and to alert the nurses whenever something adverse happens to them?
However RPA will only leverage current technologies or mix them with AI to get better results
Pro tips and advice for RPA implementation
RPA can help improve efficiencies and reduce staff workloads, in healthcare or patient management.
Project selection is a tricky part for possible RPA implementation. Service providers can look for most painful points of staff and prioritise those tasks . For healthcare organisations can start small in a specific area or run a pilot before scaling up implementation.