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Optimizing healthcare provider network management with AI

by Zachary Nickerson3 min readNovember 13, 2024

The medical practice is considering Qatalog for several key reasons:

  • Security-first approach to sensitive data

  • Ability to maintain existing workflows

  • Natural language interface requiring minimal training

  • Flexible deployment matching their pace of change

  • Capability to expand beyond provider search to other use cases

This concierge medical practice serves clients across multiple locations and is supported by thousands of vetted provider partnerships. Its commitment to exceptional service requires efficient network management to quickly connect patients with the right specialists while maintaining the highest standards of care.

The challenge: Complex provider data meets growing scale

As the practice expanded, their traditional provider search process became a bottleneck:

 "The data is siloed in different systems. Instead of searching our documentation, our staff would create Google Docs and then use Slack to ask, 'Does anybody know a specialist like this?' It was very antiquated," explains their Technology Lead.

Key challenges included:

  • Provider information scattered across Salesforce, documents, and tribal knowledge

  • No ability to search providers by radius from patient locations

  • Manual tracking of provider experience and patient volumes

  • Staff bypassing official systems due to search limitations

  • Time wasted asking colleagues for recommendations

The solution: AI-powered provider network management

With Qatalog’s RAG as a service solution, they can optimize their provider network search and management. Key capabilities include:

1. Natural language search

Staff can simply ask questions like "Show me dermatologists who do house calls within 25 miles of San Francisco" and get instant, relevant results.

2. Intelligent results ranking

Results sorted automatically by relevant metrics like:

  • Patient volume

  • Specialist expertise

  • Geographic proximity

  • Previous referral success

3. Security-first design

Unlike other AI solutions that require copying sensitive data:

  • No data leaves their systems

  • Existing security permissions are maintained

  • Compliant with healthcare data regulations

4. Seamless integration

The solution connected directly with their existing tools:

  • Salesforce

  • Confluence

  • Google Drive

  • Clinical documentation systems

Early results and feedback

Within the first few weeks of implementation:

  • Staff reported significantly faster provider searches

  • More consistent use of the official provider database

  • Reduced time spent asking colleagues for recommendations

  • Better utilization of provider network data

Their Salesforce Architect notes: "The way results are displayed is much easier to follow, they're really going to like this."

Looking ahead

The practice is now exploring additional use cases for the Qatalog technology, including:

  • Clinical documentation search

  • Policy and procedure access

  • Internal knowledge management

  • Patient care coordination

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