Author: Stuart Crawford

The American Medical Association recently shared its new AMA AI policy recommendations with the public. The AMA sees great potential to improve patient outcomes through this technology, but they also want to ensure that oversight and accountability for this augmented intelligence are in place so that the technology is used justly and effectively.

The Role of AI in Healthcare

The goal of artificial intelligence is to mimic human cognitive processes. Why would we want this in healthcare? It’s because healthcare, like many industries today, has endless amounts of data, more than any human could ever research, consider, or draw conclusions from. In theory, AI doesn’t possess these limits. The right AI technology could take all of the relevant information provided to it, identify the patterns, and develop best practices and true data-driven recommendations from it.

Today, in the medical community, we have studies that say if A, then B will probably occur. But often we can’t distinguish between correlation and causation. It’s hard to account for all of the related factors C through Z. But as AI technology develops, it will be able to do this, leading to:

• Earlier detection
• Better understanding of risk factors
• More personalized treatment recommendation
• Reduced waste on treatments that don’t work or unnecessary diagnostic testing
• Reduced cost associated with complications
• More quality-based care for patients versus fee-for-service and greater profitability for healthcare organizations. The two are not opposed but perfectly align when AI is involved.

Why Is a Policy Needed

The AMA supports insurance coverage for AI-enabled technologies that comply with state and federal regulations. Any AI developed must hold in highest regard the safety and privacy of patients.

The AMA does not support mandating that physicians or institutions use AI. They believe the technology’s benefits speak for themselves. And healthcare organizations and physicians will see that.

The AMA believes that their new policy clarifications help medical facilities:

• Prepare for a transition to more AI-supported healthcare decisions, which will include new ways of thinking and new care delivery models
• Facilitate more effective communication among patients, doctors and the associated care teams regarding how AI is being used in decision-making processes
• Rethink facility workflow, not just using AI but integrating it into their IT systems, ensuring consistency in patient care
• Advance more affordable access to AI technology so that all patients, regardless of income, benefit from these advancements
• Effectively incorporate end-user feedback to continually improve the technology.

Does AI Put Physicians at Odds with Technology?

Physicians and staff should never be made to feel that AI is over-ruling their professional judgment. For one, AI today has no empathy. It cannot, therefore, consider matters of empathy in the decision-making process. That’s a uniquely human trait.

AI does not replace human physicians. Just like the MRI improved our ability to diagnose and assess certain conditions, AI augments a medical service provider’s ability to deliver quality care.

Gerald E. Harmon, MD, former chair of the AMA Board of Trustees says, “Medical experts are working to determine the clinical applications of AI—work that will guide health care in the future. These experts, along with physicians, state and federal officials must find the path that ends with better outcomes for patients… We have to make sure the technology does not get ahead of our humanity and creativity as physicians.”

Why AI is Coming at the Perfect Time

As the US healthcare system shifts from a fee-for-service to a more outcome-based system, organizations will need to have cost-effective systems in place to reach those outcomes. As reimbursement rates shrink, institutions turn to innovations that can streamline patient care, cut costs and enhance quality.

How AI Is Being Used Today to Improve Patient Outcomes

AI isn’t a future technology. It has real-world applications today.

Multiple studies support AI’s ability to perform in its role as an augmentation to human physician judgment.

A cardiovascular group employed current AI technology to detect abnormalities across common diagnostic tests, leading to fewer errors in diagnosis, and improved patient outcomes.

An orthopedic group used AI to identify hard-to-spot fractures and soft tissue injuries that can lead to a lifetime of chronic pain for patients. The technology allowed them to detect injuries with greater accuracy and to spot them earlier when minimal intervention could eliminate the potential for a lifetime of reduced mobility and declining health.

A neurology clinic utilized current artificial technology to identify new biomarkers that allowed for earlier detection of neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Manual tests for this disease are costly and time-consuming. AI was able to pinpoint which patients would benefit from the testing and when other possible causes of symptoms needed to be explored first, significantly cutting costs and hours worked per patient while improving patient outcomes.

Integrating AI Technology

Artificial intelligence is getting more affordable and accessible. Early adopters will be able to establish themselves as the innovators in the industry through this technology. Given this technology’s potential, As more organizations invest, we’ll continue to see better patient outcomes and a healthier overall system where results-based pay systems truly work in the favor of both healthcare organizations and patients.

There never seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished, and that goes double for small business owners. When you’re top dog in charge, every small problem or frustration heads your way. Technology support is one of the key complaints from staff members, especially when there are problems with slow network connections or aging computers. You need your staff members to be contributing 110% every day, and that goes for your network infrastructure as well. If you’re struggling with finding the time to respond to dozens of IT challenges while also driving your business forward, it may be time to consider outsourcing your IT operations so your internal teams can focus on the future.

Predictability in Pricing

Whether your business is running on a shoestring or you have a healthy budget, it is tough to get hit with an unexpected bill that can reach tens of thousands of dollars. If your business experiences any type of disaster event that affects your technology, the cost to get everything back up and running can be staggering. The word “disaster” makes you think of something that won’t happen to you, but the reality of technology disasters is much different. Malware and ransomware are rampant in small businesses, with approximately 60% of all data breaches occurring in a small business. When you work with an IT managed services provider, you have an added layer of support for your team that is priced consistently throughout the year. Plus, you have the peace of mind knowing that you have experts that are an extension of your business who already understand your infrastructure — a great step towards being able to rebuild it successfully.

Reducing Overhead — and Improving Quality of Service

Technology is extremely complex and hiring all of the specialists that you truly need to run a complex business would be exorbitantly expensive. With outsourced IT operations, your staff has a platform of consistent support that they can trust to always be there when they are needed. Response times are guaranteed so staff members can focus on doing their job instead of stressing about whether their technology is working properly or quickly enough for their needs. An added benefit is the access to a stable of trained professionals with a broad range of technical knowledge in fields such as cybersecurity, network engineering, customer support, data utilization and more.

Scale Your Business With Ease

Growing your business technology used to be expensive and stressful: how can you make a major purchase of hardware and software based on the scale you think your business will be for the next few years? If you’re in an active growth stage, a poor decision could be disastrous. Either you end up with inadequate hardware that won’t support your business, or you overspend and have crucial capital reserves tied up in resources that aren’t being fully utilized. With IT managed services, scaling your business couldn’t be easier. Bringing a new server online is no longer a tortuous process of weeks, but can be accomplished very quickly by your external support team. Adding software licenses and data storage capacity is also easier, allowing you to focus on growing your business and providing exceptional service to your customers.

Enterprise-Level Technology — Sized for Your Business

It would be difficult for a small business to afford to implement the same type of advanced help desk software, cloud-based software and security measures that you would receive as a client of a managed IT services company. IT support companies are able to afford enterprise-level technology as they are spreading the costs between a variety of clients. You benefit from the advanced tech at only a fraction of the price. Your help desk support requests become more predictable and your business becomes more secure — all while you’re gaining the benefits of an enhanced network infrastructure to power your business.

Outsourcing your IT operations may not be for every business, but the majority of small businesses can see a significant benefit by reducing the burden on internal technology professionals. As an added bonus, the active monitoring provided by IT support specialists can help ensure that your business is protected from cyberattack, with quick remediation and support if you do experience an attack. Accelerate your business growth and support the innovative ideas of your teams when you rely on trusted, experienced technology professionals to provide support for your business.

While technology teams are often found reporting to the CFO, that role may not be the first one that comes to mind when you’re discussing digital business transformation. There may be a perception that CFOs are the ones requiring justification for expenses instead of the leaders who are dreaming the big dreams required to fundamentally remake the business. Today’s CFOs are stretching in new directions as their role evolves to be a more visible part of process growth, technology and visioning for the future. With the massive investments that are required to implement new technology solutions, a critical success factor for these projects is to have the full buy-in of finance — and the layer of accountability for results that comes as part and parcel of a CFOs tight involvement in these initiatives.

Businesses Are Spending $6 Trillion on Digital Transformation

That’s right — trillions of dollars are being leveraged to drive digital initiatives from artificial intelligence to IoT (Internet of Things) and augmented reality. The costs of hardware and storage may be negligible, but the never-ending changes to software platforms drive a significant portion of the costs associated with major change. This puts technology leaders in a tenuous position in terms of justifying the spend because these are sunk costs from the perspective of the CFO. Deriving ongoing value from an asset can be challenging when it’s likely to be deprecated in only a few years and has negligible resale value.

Data is a Vital Strategic Asset — and a Risk

The capture and storage of customer data is no longer the realm of marketing folk, as technology leaders and finance professionals alike are scratching their heads in an attempt to keep up with morphing regulations and cybersecurity challenges. Consolidation information into centralized databases is more crucial than ever before due to the shifting climate around privacy regulations in the U.S. and abroad. Leveraging this data to drive advanced personalization can become the competitive advantage that businesses need, but it doesn’t come cheap — or quickly. CFOs are a needed point person between financial activities, the data flowing throughout the organization and are also able to keep their fingers on the pulse of the operational needs of the organization.

Providing Operational Support for Key Digital Initiatives

CFOs can help step in on projects that are floundering and push teams to define core deliverables and stick to the solutions that have the greatest promise for the future. As the head of finance, it’s imperative that CFOs have a handle on where and how data is stored or the organization risks excessive fines and public exposure in the event of a cyber attack or even loss of data access due to a disaster event. In this new and expanding role, CFOs are best able to align the strategic initiatives of the organization with the funding required to drive them forward.

CFOs Taking the Lead in Digital Business

According to McKinsey, CFOs are increasingly pushed to the forefront of digital finance initiatives but are often still struggling to find how they can effectively work with other executives to drive transformative activities. Digitization in finance is a growing trend and one that is being actively embraced by leadership and staff members alike due to the added efficiencies that can be realized with solid technology implementations. Unfortunately, it’s just as easy to have a miss as a home run when it comes to digital finance operations — requiring a strong partnership between technology leaders and financial executives to determine where the priorities should lie for business transformation.

Whether or not they are leading digital transformation within the business, CFOs are feeling the disruption that is rippling throughout the organization with the introduction of new technologies and business requirements. “Digital technology is disrupting the role of the CFO. It is fundamentally changing the way organizations approach finances and how they interact with customers,” explained David Axson, managing director at Accenture Strategy. With all of the focus on digital transformation of the business, CFOs will have more than their share of challenges over the next decade.

How Can You and Your Employees Avoid It?

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is warning about an email phishing scam that tricks users into clicking on malicious attachments that look like legitimate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notifications.

The email campaign uses a spoofed email address to appear like a National Cyber Awareness System (NCAS) alert and lure targeted recipients into downloading malware through a malicious attachment.

CISA says that users should take the following actions to avoid becoming a victim of social engineering and phishing attacks:

• Be wary of unsolicited emails, even if the sender appears to be known; attempt to verify web addresses independently (e.g., contact our helpdesk or search the internet for the main website of the organization or topic mentioned in the email).
• Use caution with email links and attachments without authenticating the sender. CISA will never send NCAS notifications that contain email attachments.
• Immediately report any suspicious emails to our helpdesk.

What Is A Phishing Attack?

Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to solicit personal information by posing as a trustworthy organization. For example, an attacker may send email seemingly from a reputable credit card company or financial institution that requests account information, often suggesting that there is a problem.

When users respond with the requested information, attackers can use it to gain access to the accounts. Phishing attacks may also appear to come from other types of organizations, such as charities. Attackers often take advantage of current events and certain times of the year, such as:

• Natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes)
• Epidemics and health scares (e.g., H1N1)
• Economic concerns (e.g., IRS scams)
• Major political elections
• Holidays

Why Can Email Attachments Be Dangerous?

Some of the characteristics that make email attachments convenient and popular are also the ones that make them a common tool for attackers:

• Email is easily circulated. Forwarding email is so simple that viruses can quickly infect many machines. Most viruses don’t even require users to forward the email—they scan a users’ computer for email addresses and automatically send the infected message to all of the addresses they find. Attackers take advantage of the reality that most users will automatically trust and open any message that comes from someone they know.
• Email programs try to address all users’ needs. Almost any type of file can be attached to an email message, so attackers have more freedom with the types of viruses they can send.
• Email programs offer many “user-friendly” features. Some email programs have the option to automatically download email attachments, which immediately exposes your computer to any viruses within the attachments.

How Do You and Your Employees Avoid Being a Victim?

• Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, visits, or email messages from individuals asking about employees or other internal information. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the company.
• Don’t provide personal information or information about your organization, including its structure or networks, unless you are certain of a person’s authority to have the information.
• Don’t reveal personal or business financial information in an email, and don’t respond to email solicitations for this information. This includes following links sent in an email.
• Don’t send sensitive information over the internet before checking a website’s security.
• Pay attention to the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of a website. Malicious websites may look identical to a legitimate site, but the URL may use a variation in spelling or a different domain (e.g., .com vs. .net).
• If you are unsure whether an email request is legitimate, try to verify it by contacting the company directly. Don’t use the contact information provided on a website connected to the request; instead, check previous statements for contact information.
• Ask us to install and maintain anti-virus software, firewalls, and email filters to reduce some of this traffic.
• Take advantage of any anti-phishing features offered by your email client and web browser.

Get New School Security Awareness Training

You must train your employees to be constantly vigilant to identify attackers’ attempts to deceive them. New-School Security Awareness Training will provide the knowledge they need to defend against these attacks.

What Is New-School Security Awareness Training?

More than ever, your users are the weak link in your IT security. You need highly effective and frequent cybersecurity training, along with random Phishing Security Tests that provide several remedial options in case an employee falls for a simulated phishing attack.

With world-class, user-friendly New-School Security Awareness Training, you’ll have training with self-service enrollment, completion logs, and both pre-and post-training phishing security tests that show you who is or isn’t completing prescribed training. You’ll also know the percentage of your employees who are phish-prone.

And with the end-user training interface, your users get a fresh new learner experience that makes learning fun and engaging. It has optional customization features to enable “gamification” of training, so your employees can compete against their peers on leaderboards and earn badges while learning how to keep your organization safe from cyber attacks.

With New-School Security Awareness Training You’ll…

Have Baseline Testing to assess the phish-prone percentage of your users through a free simulated phishing attack.

Train your users with the world’s largest library of security awareness training content; including interactive modules, videos, games, posters and newsletters, and automated training campaigns with scheduled reminder emails.

Phish your users with best-in-class, fully automated simulated phishing attacks, and thousands of templates with unlimited usage, and community phishing templates.

See the results with enterprise-strength reporting that show stats and graphs for both training and phishing, all ready for your management.

New-School Training…

• Sends Phishing Security Tests to your users and you get your phish-prone percentage.
• Rolls out Training Campaigns for all users with automated follow-up emails to “nudge” incomplete users, as well as point-of-failure training auto-enrollment.
• Uses Advanced Reporting to monitor your users’ training progress, and to watch your phish-prone percentage drop.
• Provides a New Exploit Functionality that allows an internal, fully automated human penetration testing.
• Includes a New USB Drive Test that allows you to test your users’ reactions to unknown USBs they find.

Plus, you can access Training Access Levels: I, II, and III giving you access to an “always-fresh” content library based on your subscription level. You’ll get web-based, on-demand, engaging training that addresses the needs of your organization whether you have 50, 500 or 5,000 users.

Keep your business from being victimized by phishing attacks.

We can tell you more about New School Security Awareness training for your employees.