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Reinvent the wheel? No, we’re looking for ways to improve it

August 1, 2025

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People often say, “don’t reinvent the wheel”, but the fact is, the wheel has been reinvented (or at least reimagined) countless times throughout history. 

As far back as 1500 BC, ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt had written records of adding grooves to wheels to create pulley systems. Around the third century BC, Greek engineers added teeth to the simple wheel to create gears, allowing the future creation of complex machinery and elegant, precision time pieces. In the late 1800s, tires were created, and over the following two centuries, tires continued to evolve, with new materials made from rubber and grooved to maneuver more safely over wet and icy roads. 

The beauty of innovation is the perseverance to continuously ask, “How can I make this better?”

At Optum, our “better for you” promise is integrated across the organization and incorporated into our innovation — whether it’s a new solution or simply improving the way we solve problems today. Even when we’re not recreating the wheel, we’re constantly looking for ways to improve it.

The shortest distance between two points

With most large projects, we send the new project request through a detailed evaluation stage to make sure we thoroughly understand the scope of a client request before we begin developing a solution. However, not all projects require that time-consuming level of evaluation. 

About six months ago, we overhauled the way we handle standard configuration file projects. We’ve created a streamlined process that bypasses legacy triage and routes these projects through an expedited path.

The results have been impressive. Clients are already noticing faster turnaround times and more responsive service, especially for file-related enhancements. It’s a small but powerful change that reflects our ongoing efforts to optimize project delivery and speed to market.

Building better, faster, smarter with AI

We continue to expand our use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the software development lifecycle. We’ve adopted AI tools to help us write better user stories and acceptance criteria — two elements that are essential to our development process. Also, by working directly with clients up front to vet detailed project scope, we’re delivering better quality products with fewer issues that require correction after implementation.

We’re using AI to help read and translate outdated code into modern programming languages, allowing us to upgrade critical systems more efficiently. And we’re also using AI to automate many of our regression tests, allowing our teams to focus on higher-value activities while delivering enhancements faster.

Finding and fixing errors fast

Another groundbreaking development is our implementation of self-healing technology for core business functions. This AI-driven component can detect failures in critical workflows, identify the root cause and even write the necessary code to fix the issue — often before users ever notice a problem.

By catching and correcting errors early, we can minimize system downtime, maintain productivity, and ensure a more seamless experience for both our team members and clients.

Reducing risk and ensuring security

Security remains one of our most important responsibilities — and one we take incredibly seriously. In response to the broader cybersecurity environment, including high-profile breaches like the Change Healthcare incident, we’ve strengthened our security posture through a variety of measures. These include continuous monitoring by our IT team and scanning software to look for security vulnerabilities and potential for risk, and white hat testing to stay ahead of bad actors. 

Our security initiatives aren’t one-time fixes. They’re part of an ongoing strategy to stay ahead of evolving threats and provide peace of mind to clients about the safety of their data.

Strengthening proven methods with new AI

By leveraging new AI technology to enhance our existing proprietary predictive analytics, we’re creating more detailed, specific predictions on claim risk, projected total claim cost and claim duration. Our clinical team utilizes this technology internally when evaluating potential claim risk and recommending interventions, and we’re exploring ways to expand this critical data to claims professionals.

Building a stronger foundation for the future

All of these internal enhancements, while largely invisible to the outside world, have a significant impact on how we serve our clients. Whether it’s reducing downtime, improving turnaround time, securing data or introducing smarter, AI-powered processes, these behind-the-scenes investments are the backbone of our commitment to excellence.

As we look ahead, we’re not only building better technology, we’re building a better organization. One that listens to feedback, adapts quickly, and remains focused on serving our clients and helping injured persons recover. We’re making things better for people, and that’s what we’re all about.

Contact us

Interested in learning more about how our powerful technology and personalized services can be customized to meet your organization’s unique needs? Contact us at expectmore@optum.com.

Article disclaimer-WorkCompWire

Also published through our media partnership with WorkCompWire, an online news service offering valuable information regarding workers’ compensation and related issues.