AI in Healthcare — A Guide for Clinicians PLUS Winnie Tsui (Squegg)! (RTS Newsletter #9)

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Community Spotlight: Bridging Clinical Innovation —From Hand Therapy to Healthcare Tech

From Clinical Roots to Technology Innovation

Winnie's path into healthcare technology began with an aptitude test in high school that pointed to two potential careers: computer science and occupational therapy. "Computer science was full of what we thought were the 'weird kids' at the time," she recalls with a laugh. "Now they're all retired and wealthy!"

Choosing occupational therapy, she quickly gravitated toward hand therapy, drawn to its technical complexity and challenging nature. While serving as the director of the hand therapy program at NYU's Rusk Institute, she found herself at an unexpected intersection of healthcare and technology as major tech companies began visiting her department.

"These companies would come through looking to test their technology, trying to find healthcare applications," Winnie explains. "I was simultaneously pursuing my MBA at NYU, so I could provide both clinical and business analysis of their solutions. That's when they started telling me, 'You should be a product manager' - a role I hadn't even heard of before."

Breaking Down Barriers

Throughout her career, Winnie has witnessed a persistent challenge in healthcare technology: the communication gap between clinicians and developers. She recounts a memorable story from a healthcare hackathon where she acted as a judge and advisor. "There was this hand therapist trying to convey a concept for prosthetic sensitivity to a team of engineers. For four hours, they struggled to understand each other. I was able to bridge the gap between the clinical and technical languages, and suddenly everything clicked."

This experience highlights what Winnie sees as a crucial need in healthcare technology: having clinically trained professionals at the table during product development. "If you're considered a healthcare technology company, you should have a healthcare person involved from the start," she emphasizes. "It speeds up decision-making and ensures you're solving real problems, not just creating solutions in search of problems."

The Future of Rehabilitation Technology

When discussing emerging technologies, Winnie becomes particularly animated about the potential of AI and sensor technology in rehabilitation. She points to high-end hearing aids as an example of where healthcare technology is heading. "These devices use AI to automatically adjust to the direction of sound and filter ambient noise. Imagine applying that level of intuitive technology to rehabilitation devices - having tools that can automatically adjust to a patient's strength levels or compensate for weakness on one side."

However, she remains pragmatic about the challenges of implementing new technologies in healthcare settings. "We have to remember the 'needs versus wants' equation," she notes. "When patients only get 20 visits, do you really need all the bells and whistles to get them from point A to point B? That's why I believe AI's most immediate impact will be in reducing administrative burden, allowing clinicians to focus more on patient care."

Embracing Change

For clinicians who might be hesitant about new technologies, Winnie offers both understanding and encouragement. She recently helped a colleague overcome their fear of AI by showing them practical applications, like using it to draft responses to insurance denial letters. "Once they saw how it could save time on administrative tasks, their entire staff started using it," she shares. "It's about finding those practical, everyday applications that make their jobs easier."

Looking ahead, Winnie sees tremendous opportunity in healthcare technology, particularly in making rehabilitation more accessible and effective. Her advice to fellow clinicians? "Don't be scared of new technology. Start small, find practical applications, and remember - these tools are meant to enhance your capabilities, not replace them."

Through her unique journey from clinician to technology leader, Winnie continues to champion the thoughtful integration of technology in healthcare, always with an eye toward solving real clinical problems and improving patient care.

World of Rehab 🌐

• [Speech] Congress has extended Medicare telehealth coverage for audiologists and speech-language pathologists through March 31, 2025, and waived a 4% PAYGO cut, but failed to prevent a 2.8% Medicare Part B payment reduction, resulting in providers facing an overall 4.8% payment cut in 2025.

• [Physical] Physical therapists are advocating for a shift in public perception from rehabilitation-focused care to preventative wellness visits, similar to regular dental check-ups, with leaders emphasizing the profession's role in preventing injuries and maintaining health across all age groups.

Indie's Insights: AI in Healthcare — A Clear-Eyed Guide for Clinicians 💡

AI is transforming healthcare" has become the empty slogan of countless LinkedIn posts and vendor pitches. From AI that claims to outperform radiologists to chatbots promising to eliminate documentation burden, separating substance from hype is increasingly challenging. This guide provides a framework for clinicians to evaluate these claims and understand AI's actual capabilities and limitations in healthcare delivery…

See you in two weeks,

Eddie

P.S. Have questions about AI or feel overwhelmed by the information being thrown your way? I'd love to hear from you - reply to this email!

Last Laugh 🤣

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