Robotic Process Automation vs. Artificial Intelligence
A recent survey suggested that 98% of healthcare organizations anticipate using artificial intelligence (AI) in their revenue cycle organizations by 2023, with almost 90% reporting that they currently have some form of AI in use. I find this statistic difficult to accept. Many consider Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to meet the definition of Artificial Intelligence. While OCR and RPA help automate repetitive processes, they are designed to work in conjunction with humans. This means that OCR and RPA are not AI. Why is this?
AI Replaces Human Labor
AI is a form of technology intended to replace human labor. RPA uses structured inputs and logic, where AI uses unstructured inputs and logic.
Think of it this way: OCR and RPA are like your eyes, arms, and legs. They do what they are told to by the human brain. AI is the brain. It is the simulation of intelligent processes by machines. So, do I believe that 90% of revenue cycle organizations currently use AI? No. I think that 90% of revenue cycle organizations have automated processes with OCR and RPA technology. Should 90% of providers have AI-transformed revenue cycle processes? Absolutely. Is an AI-transformed revenue cycle possible? Absolutely. The time is now for providers to incorporate AI into their revenue cycle strategies.
