chatbots have already penetrated quite a few different industries and it’s safe to assume that the healthcare sector may soon fully embrace them. At the moment, they are mostly used as assistants – they respond to human queries and not much more than that.

What are chatbots being used for at the moment?

So, what could they be used for? For example, most patients do not engage with the hospital after receiving medication. Chatbots will help solve this problem and the hospitals will be able to take advantage of chatbots and engage with their patients.

This is, of course, in relation to the healthcare industry, but bots have already become the norm in other industries, such as banking.

How can chatbots help improve the healthcare industry

  • Easy access to information: Chatbots may turn out to be real "pocket doctors" in a few years time. Instead of waiting at the hospital or trying to get through to a doctor by telephone, patients will be able to communicate directly with a chatbot and the bots will, in return, collect data, provide a potential diagnosis, book appointments, or even prescribe medication.
  • Faster service: Chatbots have already become an integral part of the MNCH (Mental, Newborn and Child Health) sector. Moms-to-be get regular updates from parental clinics and bots keep them in touch with health care providers who they can consult at any time. The women receive notifications and alerts regarding their appointments, diet, and exercise. Healthcare providers are able to streamline their admissions, transfers and even discharges, leaving bureaucracy and paperwork out.
  • Data entry: Chatbots have managed to reduce human error and automate the process of data entry, making it easier for doctors to access patient information. Software has also turned out to be effective in archiving medical histories, but, most importantly, they have become so advanced that they can even analyze medical data. This means that bots could hypothetically even save lives, since they're able to analyze data and make a diagnosis in a matter of seconds.
  • Doctor-patient communication: They can play a big role in developing the doctor-patient relationship. They can effortlessly and automatically respond to patient queries on time, follow-up on a patient's progress, provide the patient with advice, and make the entire experience more enjoyable and personable for the patient. This can prove to be very effective, saving money and time.
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