AI boosts productivity & reduces wait times in New Zealand healthcare

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in New Zealand's healthcare sector is being highlighted as a method to reduce lengthy patient wait times, as clinicians cite benefits to both productivity and quality of care.

Pressure on waitlists

New Zealand's healthcare system has come under scrutiny due to rising elective procedure waiting lists, with government data indicating the number of people waiting more than four months for procedures such as hip, knee, or cataract surgery has surged by over 2,500 per cent in a 12-month period.

Calls are mounting from within the specialist medical community for faster uptake of AI solutions. Dr James Leong, an ophthalmologist based in Wellington, is among those championing the integration of new technology in clinical settings.

Clinical experience

Dr Leong utilises Medow Health AI technology, which automates the creation of medical notes, reports, and referral letters through a co-pilot system designed specifically for various medical disciplines. He specialises in cataract surgery, medical retinal conditions, and uveitis, and says the technology has positively affected both patient flow and his personal workload.

"I see between 24 and 30 patients a day as well as surgery days across both private practice and the public health care system. While I have been used to taking notes my entire career, it is not always what is best for the patient and the rest of the team, because I have my own form of shorthand that no one else can decipher," Dr Leong said.

"I understand the concerns that some have about the concept of artificial intelligence. But what this technology really does is free up my human intelligence for where it matters most: my clinical judgment, my focus on the patient in front of me, and complex decision-making. It handles the mechanics of taking notes, but it never replaces the essential human elements of care: empathy, experience, and nuance.

He described a change in patient interaction as well, stating, "I often summarise what I am seeing and discuss the condition, like I would if a medical student was in the room, so not only does the AI scribe pick it up but the patient likes it too because they get slightly more detailed information about their condition."

He adds, "I can see a patient and by the time they see my receptionist I can have their follow up letter in laymen's terms ready for them."

Enhancing specialist workflows

Joel Freiberg, Co-Founder of Medow Health, points to technology as a route to relief for overburdened specialists.

"We're not trying to replace doctors, we're trying to help them. Manually producing medical reports is a time-consuming and complex process that requires extensive paperwork and hours of labour-intensive work," Mr Freiberg said.

He emphasised the difference AI can make in scaling: "Specialists have been stuck using outdated reporting systems that pull their attention away from the patient. AI not only saves time but also improves the quality of patient interaction."

"While this technology allows a single doctor to see two or three extra patients a day, scaled up across the health system, it has the potential to make a serious dent in specialist waitlists. When doctors get their time back, patients benefit," he said.

Medow Health reports that its AI platform, specifically tailored to medical specialties, has been used in 250,000 specialist consultations across New Zealand and Australia during the past quarter. According to Mr Freiberg, "With the AI assistant taking care of tedious administrative tasks, clinicians are reporting improved focus during consultations, additional time in their day and reduced work out of hours and weekends reducing burn-out."

AI strategy developments

Recently, New Zealand became the last OECD country to publish a national AI Strategy intended to drive AI adoption across various sectors, including healthcare. Health New Zealand has also approved the use of AI scribes in public hospitals and clinics in an effort to ease documentation demands on clinicians.

Medow Health also notes its partnership with practice management system provider Incisive in New Zealand, which is expected to streamline specialist workflows and improve documentation accuracy.