Intelligent Automation in Healthcare: Use Cases & Insights

Imagine walking into a hospital on a busy Monday morning. The waiting room is packed, the phones are ringing off the hook, and the team is stretched thin. Nurses, doctors, and administrators are trying to get things done—answering questions, updating records, processing insurance forms.  

It’s not just your local clinic feeling this crunch. Across the world, healthcare providers are grappling with staff shortages, escalating patient volumes, and the intense pressure to deliver quality care. Burnout among healthcare professionals is real and rising. 

If you’ve worked in healthcare—or even just been a patient—you know what I mean. But what if you could change all that? This is where intelligent automation (IA) comes in. IA is a toolkit that’s transforming the healthcare sector by tackling inefficiencies, breaking down silos, and, ultimately, giving time back to the people who need it most. 

In this post, you will explore: 

• What does Intelligent Automation in Healthcare mean? 
• How it’s already making a difference in hospitals, clinics, and health systems around the globe. 
• The problems it solves, the incredible impact it's having, and what the future could look like. 

Understanding Intelligent Automation in Healthcare 

What is intelligent automation (IA)?  

IA is like having an entire team of digital assistants that work around the clock. These assistants take care of the mundane, repetitive tasks that eat up time—so your human workforce can do what they do best: care for people. 

Intelligent Automation in Healthcare combines a few key technologies: 

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Think of AI as the "brain." It learns, makes decisions, and adapts based on data. 
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA) These are the "hands"—software robots that automate repetitive, rule-based tasks. 
• Business Process Management (BPM) BPM is the "organizer" that makes sure all processes are efficient, and resources are used optimally. 

These technologies work together to create seamless processes. Instead of a nurse manually entering patient information into different systems, or an admin person calling to confirm appointments, these digital tools step in to get it done faster, and more accurately. 

Why Does This Matter? 

Healthcare is unique. It involves people’s lives, and every minute counts. Here are some of the common challenges the sector is currently facing: 

• Staff Shortages The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that by 2035, the world could face a shortage of 12.9 million healthcare professionals. That prediction has already started to come true. 
• Staff Burnout Burnout rates among healthcare workers are at an all-time high, with the American Medical Association reporting that 62% of physicians experienced burnout in 2021. 
• Rising Patient Volumes People are living longer, and the need for healthcare services is increasing. Global aging and more chronic health conditions mean more people need long-term care. 
• Complex Regulations Healthcare is one of the most regulated industries. Ensuring compliance with privacy laws (like HIPAA in the US or GDPR in Europe) requires attention to data and documentation. 

Automation directly addresses these issues. It relieves staff of repetitive administrative tasks, enhances compliance, and cuts down the time patients spend waiting.  

Key Challenges That Automation Can Solve in Healthcare

1. The Burden of Administrative Tasks 

Did you know that 30-50% of a doctor’s day is spent doing administrative work? Filling out forms, processing insurance claims, managing referrals. It’s an endless loop of paperwork that takes away from the actual practice of medicine. 

The New England Journal of Medicine reported that, on average, physicians spend 16 minutes per patient encounter on EHR tasks alone. Nurses are often bogged down with similar responsibilities, from managing patient records to tracking medication administration. 

Automation Helps By 

• Managing EHRs Instead of staff spending hours updating patient records, RPA bots can handle data entry and ensure that information is consistent and up to date. 
• Reducing Paperwork Automated systems can take over repetitive data collection tasks, reducing the paperwork load by up to 70%, according to studies. 

The NHS Aneurin Bevan Health Board in the UK used Intelligent Automation in Healthcare to link over one million COVID-19 records to patient information, enabling frontline staff to see vaccination statuses instantly. The automation reduced triage times and improved safety measures. 

2. Fragmented Systems and Siloed Data 

In healthcare, data lives in silos. Lab results are stored in one system, imaging records in another, patient histories somewhere else. The result? A lot of time wasted manually transferring information, not to mention the increased potential for errors. 

Automation Helps By 

• Interoperability Digital workers can access core systems like EPIC or Cerner, allowing them to connect data across departments without requiring multiple manual inputs. 
• Data Flow and Accuracy Automated bots make sure information is entered correctly and sent to the right place, reducing errors and ensuring compliance. 

Example: The King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London automated its pharmacy department's invoice processing. This reduced manual matching time and allowed staff to focus on high-value tasks. Processing time for supply orders was cut from eight days to three. 

3. Staff Burnout and High Turnover 

Healthcare workers, particularly nurses, are exhausted. According to a report by Medscape, 49% of nurses have reported feeling "burned out." High turnover rates strain the remaining staff and affect patient care quality. 

Automation Helps By 

• Automating Repetitive Work By taking over mundane data entry and appointment reminders, automation lets healthcare workers focus on what they do best—caregiving. 
• Improving Work Conditions Less stress and fewer menial tasks mean better job satisfaction. Staff are happier when they can focus on patient care rather than paperwork. 

Portsmouth Hospitals used IA to increase their maternity appointment capacity by 33%. Staff no longer needed to outsource pregnancy scans, which saved £105,000 annually while also reducing risks for both mothers and babies. 

4. Managing the Cost of Care 

The inefficiencies of disconnected operations make it difficult to manage costs. Healthcare providers often deal with delayed payments, billing errors, and high administrative costs. 

Automation Helps By 

• Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Automation can handle activities like claims processing, insurance verification, and coding—all of which are repetitive and prone to human error. By removing bottlenecks, IA ensures payments are processed faster and with fewer errors. 

Example: Banner Health used intelligent automation to migrate millions of electronic medical records, saving 1.2 million hours for the business and deploying 43 digital workers across 20 departments. 

5. Patient Experience 

A patient’s journey through the healthcare system can feel like a maze—endless paperwork, long waiting times, and complicated scheduling. It's no surprise that 42% of consumers rated access to care below average, according to the EY Global Consumer Health Survey 2023. 

Automation Helps By 

• Scheduling and Reminders Patients can book appointments through self-service portals and receive automatic reminders—cutting down on no-shows and making it easy for them to navigate their care. 
• Self-Service With digital kiosks, patients can check in, fill out forms, and even pay bills without needing staff intervention. 

The KFM NHS Trust used digital workers to automatically order medical supplies and check invoices, reducing the time between order and delivery from eight days to three. 

What Does Intelligent Automation in Healthcare Look Like in Real Life? 

It’s all well and good to talk about automation, but what does it look like in practice? Here are some examples of where automation is currently making a difference: 

1. Patient Scheduling and Communication 

IA can automate appointment scheduling and reminders. Imagine a patient who needs a follow-up after an annual check-up. Instead of the nurse making a phone call or sending a reminder card, the automation system sends out an SMS or email reminder. If the patient needs to reschedule, they can do so online without any human intervention. 

This reduces no-shows, saves administrative time, and keeps patients in the loop—all while taking a load off healthcare workers. 

2. Supply Chain Management 

Hospitals deal with hundreds of deliveries every day. An automated supply chain can track what’s in stock, log deliveries, and automatically reorder items before they run out. This keeps essential supplies available without requiring constant manual checks. 

3. Claims Processing 

In many hospitals, claims processing involves dozens of manual steps: verifying patient details, cross-checking codes, and following up with insurance companies. Automating this process not only saves time but also drastically reduces errors—ensuring that payments are processed faster, and more accurately. 

A case study from ApprioHealth showed how they used IA to process seven times the number of insurance claims that were previously handled manually. This significant boost in efficiency also reduced human errors. 

Benefits of Intelligent Automation in Healthcare 

The benefits of intelligent automation extend to every corner of the healthcare industry—from hospitals and clinics to patients and administrative teams. Here’s a closer look at how everyone wins. 

1. Increased Efficiency and Productivity 

Intelligent Automation in Healthcare takes over repetitive, manual processes that bog down healthcare teams. By reducing administrative burdens, healthcare workers are free to focus on patient care, leading to significantly increased productivity. 

In one example, Marie Curie used automation to help clinical staff enter patient data, giving 45 days back to staff each year—time that could be spent with patients. 

2. Enhanced Accuracy and Compliance 

Manual data entry is fraught with errors. Automation not only reduces mistakes but also ensures consistent compliance with regulations. With IA systems like RPA, you have one central version of the truth for patient information, minimizing the chance of inconsistencies or regulatory issues. 

3. Improved Patient Satisfaction 

Patients are looking for fast, efficient, and accurate service. Automation makes that possible through quick scheduling, efficient billing, and faster access to care. When patients are seen on time and paperwork is minimized, satisfaction levels rise. 

In a recent survey, 84% of healthcare executives agreed that improving patient experience was one of their top priorities, and automation is proving to be an effective way to achieve that. 

4. Cost Savings and Resource Optimization 

Automation drives down operational costs by reducing the need for manual intervention. It also helps with scalable solutions, which means as patient numbers grow, automation grows with it—without requiring an equivalent increase in administrative staff. 

SS&C Blue Prism implemented automation that reduced invoice processing times for the Hutt Valley District by 60%, while delivering 100% accuracy in referral handling. This allowed resources to be focused elsewhere, ultimately saving $527,000. 

5. Boosting Employee Satisfaction 

With fewer repetitive tasks, healthcare workers experience less burnout. Automation empowers staff to focus on higher-value activities, fostering a culture of satisfaction and fulfillment. Instead of feeling like cogs in a giant administrative machine, they can return to the core reason they joined healthcare: to help people. 

Real-Life Applications of Intelligent Automation in Healthcare 

Let’s take a deeper dive into some specific use cases where IA has transformed healthcare services: 

Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) 

Healthcare providers like Banner Health have used intelligent automation to streamline RCM, from prior authorizations to coding and claims processing. With IA, the time needed to complete these tasks was drastically reduced, improving cash flow and reducing administrative strain. 

King’s College Hospital automated supplier invoice handling, reducing manual matching requirements and freeing up staff for more meaningful activities. 

Patient Onboarding and Communication 

From digital intake forms to automated communication, IA improves every touchpoint a patient has with their healthcare provider. Portsmouth Hospitals automated their maternity appointment system, which increased capacity and saved thousands annually while improving patient care. 

Supply Chain Management 

The KFM NHS Trust automated their entire supply chain—automatically tracking inventory and placing orders, which led to a reduction in restocking time by five days. 

Integrated Care Across Agencies 

Automation helps healthcare providers work seamlessly with other organizations. Whether it’s transferring referrals to different specialists or integrating with social care, IA makes data flow smoothly, avoiding gaps that could lead to delayed or incomplete care. 

Preparing for Automation in Healthcare 

If your healthcare organization is considering automation, here are some critical steps to ensure successful implementation: 

1. Build a Strong Business Case 

Automation isn't just about "keeping up". It's about revolutionizing how work gets done. Make sure to present a compelling business case that highlights both operational efficiencies and the improved patient care outcomes that automation will provide. 

2. Choose the Right Partner and Technology 

Different healthcare organizations have different needs. Some might receive help from cloud-based automation, while others may require on-premises systems. Choosing the right provider and platform—whether that’s SS&C Blue Prism, Microsoft Power Automate, or another solution—is crucial. 

3. Set Up a Center of Excellence (CoE) 

A CoE is a central team that champions automation. They keep things on track, provide resources, and ensure that best practices are maintained. This team is essential for scaling automation across an organization. 

4. Start Small and Build Gradually 

Don't try to automate everything at once. Start with a simple but high-volume task, like appointment scheduling or claims processing. Success with these will build confidence and showcase the value to the broader organization. 

The Future of Automation in Healthcare 

As technology advances, the possibilities for healthcare automation are endless. We're moving towards predictive healthcare—using data to predict health issues before they happen—and personalized treatment based on individual data. 

AI-Driven Treatment is already helping doctors analyze data and suggest personalized treatments. As AI continues to learn, we’ll likely see even more applications—like aiding in robotic surgeries or providing real-time patient monitoring. 

Wearables and Sensors are also making strides in remote patient care. These devices can track patients and send alerts to healthcare providers, enabling proactive care, particularly for chronic conditions. 

Wrapping Up: Keeping Healthcare Human 

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve seen that automation isn’t about replacing healthcare workers or making hospitals into tech-driven environments. It’s about freeing up time, reducing stress, and letting doctors, nurses, and support staff do what they’re best at—taking care of people. 

Automation is that helping hand we need to take care of the growing demands of healthcare. By taking over the tasks that machines can do well—scheduling, billing, data entry—we can refocus on what makes healthcare special: the human connection between caregiver and patient. 

At its heart, intelligent automation in healthcare is about making systems work better so people can thrive. It’s about keeping healthcare human. 

At Prioxis, we’re committed to helping healthcare providers improve operations without losing human touch. Whether it’s reducing administrative burdens, enhancing patient experiences, or driving down operational costs, we’re here to make it happen.