Artificial intelligence has rapidly evolved from an abstract concept into a transformative force across industries, and healthcare is no exception. Sectors such as senior living, physical therapy, and rehabilitation are still navigating the early stages of adoption.
One of the most exciting things about AI is its ability to transform objective functional data into meaningful, life-changing insights. Traditional rehabilitation assessments often rely on periodic check-ins, which can miss critical changes in a patient’s condition.
With AI-driven solutions, we can perform continuous, passive monitoring of functional mobility, allowing us to analyze movement patterns in real time. This capability provides a more comprehensive view of a patient’s status, enabling us to identify issues earlier and intervene before they escalate.
AI and rehabilitation outside of the clinic
Rehab providers have limited ability to monitor patients once they leave the clinic. AI-powered tools can collect data from electronic medical records (EMRs), wearable devices, and passive monitoring tools, creating a 360-degree view of patient health. For example, if a patient’s gait speed slows significantly, AI can correlate that with medication changes or stress factors and flag it for provider review. This kind of real-time insight allows for proactive care, which can help prevent falls, hospitalizations, and overall decline.
AI and patient engagement
AI is transforming therapy engagement by providing continuous, real-time insights into a patient’s functional progress. One of the key advantages of AI-driven solutions is their ability to track mobility and adherence to prescribed exercises over time. If a patient is skipping exercises or experiencing difficulty with movement, AI can alert their provider, enabling timely intervention and personalized support.
This proactive approach can significantly improve patient outcomes. For example, after a total joint replacement, patients can take a more active role in their recovery with AI-generated insights that guide their rehabilitation, optimize their progress, and ensure they stay on track. By bridging the gap between in-person visits, AI enhances engagement, supports better adherence, and ultimately leads to improved long-term mobility and quality of life.
Integration, compatibility, and AI adoption in rehabilitation
Lack of standardization across health systems is a significant challenge. Different EMR platforms that do not communicate well with each other, different data sources and metrics all create disconnected experiences. If an AI solution is just another disconnected tool, it can be more of a hindrance than a help. As interoperability improves, AI-powered rehab solutions will integrate more seamlessly. And that will drive efficiency and enhance patient care.
The rapid evolution of AI
AI today is in a phase of rapid evolution, much like the early days of the internet. Back then, systems were disconnected, making the experience clunky. Over time, standardization and better connectivity turned the internet into the seamless tool we rely on today.
AI is following a similar path. It already provides powerful insights, but many solutions are still isolated, limiting their impact. As AI evolves and systems work better together, it will become a more intuitive part of healthcare, giving providers and patients real-time, actionable insights.
Improving the lives of providers
AI should be as easy to use as it is powerful. The best solutions save time, simplify workflows, and reduce clinician burnout rather than add to it. For AI to truly help healthcare, it must fit seamlessly into daily practice and be easy to adopt.
One of AI’s biggest benefits is cutting administrative work. AI-powered documentation tools let clinicians focus on patients instead of paperwork. Smarter EMR systems now pull in data from multiple sources, while advanced dictation tools can even detect tone and sentiment. AI-driven scheduling and onboarding also boost efficiency, creating a smoother experience for both providers and patients.
Building trust in AI
Trust comes from transparency and proven outcomes. No matter how advanced AI gets, it won’t be widely adopted unless providers, patients, and insurers trust it. The integrity of the data is essential. Providers need to see that AI-generated insights are reliable and clinically meaningful. Patients need to feel confident that these technologies are enhancing and not replacing human care. And insurers need data-backed proof that AI improves outcomes while reducing costs. As we continue to test and validate AI’s impact through real-world evidence, trust will grow. That will lead to much wider adoption.
2025 and beyond
As AI technology evolves and healthcare systems become more connected, its potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce provider burden will only expand. With a focus on transparency, usability, and clinical validation, AI is becoming an indispensable tool in shaping the future of senior healthcare in 2025 and beyond.
Patrick Tarnowski
Patrick Tarnowski is chief commercial officer at OneStep.
