The Future of Healthcare: AI-Enabled Home Care
Dr. Shravan Verma, CEO and cofounder of Speedoc, believes that AI will transform healthcare by making homes the new center of care. In an exclusive interview with Business Insider, Dr. Verma explained how AI will enable this shift without replacing clinicians.
The concept of a ‘virtual hospital’ brings healthcare directly to patients’ homes, addressing the issue of access to hospital-grade care being dependent on geography or infrastructure. “Why should access to hospital-grade care be dependent on geography or infrastructure?” Dr. Verma questioned. “The home will become the new center of care, and AI will be the invisible infrastructure enabling this shift.”
A Hybrid Approach to Home Care
Dr. Verma envisions a hybrid future for home care, where AI-enabled self-care tools are integrated into regulated, human-involved systems. “I see the future of home care as a hybrid, with AI-enabled self-care tools integrated into regulated, human-involved systems,” he said. This approach will make care more personalized and effective.
Speedoc is already leveraging AI in its operations, using it to triage patient cases, optimize logistics for clinician dispatch, and anticipate escalation risks. AI models analyze data from devices like pulse oximeters and BP monitors, alerting clinicians to potential issues before they become critical.
The Role of AI in Supporting Clinicians
Dr. Verma emphasized that AI will transform but not replace clinicians, especially in home settings. “AI will transform but not replace the clinician role, especially in home settings,” he explained. “Their role becomes more relational as AI simplifies documentation and supports better decision-making.”
While AI can handle initial patient interactions and triage, it must escalate to qualified professionals when needed. “Chatbots and AI tools can handle the first mile of care, but they must escalate to qualified professionals when needed,” Dr. Verma noted.
Challenges and Considerations
One of the key challenges with AI in healthcare is the risk of bias in training data and the potential for AI to generate inaccurate information, known as ‘confabulation.’ To address this, Dr. Verma stressed the importance of governance, transparency, and auditability in AI deployment.
“We need to be vigilant about bias in training data and sometimes a lack of contextual nuances in understanding what a patient’s condition is,” he warned. “Governance, transparency, and auditability must be baked into every AI deployment.”
Focusing on Outcomes, Not AI
Dr. Verma advised against leading with AI but instead focusing on outcomes and convenience. “When it comes to AI-driven home care, the key is not to lead with AI but with outcomes and convenience,” he said. Patients are more concerned with whether care is faster, safer, and more personalized than with whether it involves AI.
Ultimately, the successful integration of AI in home care requires a balance between technology and human touch. “The real unlock is making sure AI remains transparent, empathetic, and always augments, not replaces, the human touch,” Dr. Verma concluded.
