Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare- Innovations and Opportunities

The success stories of the application of artificial intelligence (AI) create the impression that what was once considered impossible will soon be achievable. From personalized shopping and voice assistants to inventing robotic buzzing bees that can pollinate crops and self-driving cars, AI has become the synonym for help and hope for many and the healthcare industry is no exception. Isn't the fact that AI has the potential to enhance healthcare facilities a comforting information to those in need of help??

AI is increasingly being used to assist and augment natural intelligence in healthcare. They are partners in a dynamic, ever-evolving act that's helping to shape the future of medication and treatment. As populations grow, there is an increased demand for resources, and this can lead to challenges in meeting healthcare needs. According to WHO, more than 40% of its member states report having fewer than 10 doctors per 10,000 people. Delay in receiving medical attention or diagnosis can lead to the progression of illness or disease, worsening the patient's health condition. But with AI-enabled capabilities including early detection, personalized care, workflow optimization, etc. the healthcare industry is now able to significantly improve on delivering better patient outcomes.?

Unlocking the potential of AI?

AI has made significant strides in the healthcare industry, providing valuable assistance in various aspects ranging from diagnosing diseases to developing personalized treatment plans. The application of AI to healthcare dates back to the 1970s when it was initially used to help solve biomedical problems. It's a delight to note that, when looking at a few examples of the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare, the journey of AI up until 2023 has been one of tremendous discoveries and progress, and it continues to develop and grow.?

• Medical Imaging????

There are numerous scenarios in which a patient might require medical imaging. When a professional is required to make a large number of decisions in a short period of time, it can lead to errors in diagnosis and treatment planning. But AI with its ability to analyse images as a fast pace, accelerates the speed of anomaly identification. QView Medical, ScreenPoint Medical, and CureMetrix are some of the innovative AI-based medical imaging tools

• Telemonitoring and Telemedicine??

Telemedicine is the practice of using electronic information and communication technologies to provide and support healthcare remotely. AI can be used to provide healthcare assistance by remotely monitoring patients and checking their vital signs including body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration etc. to deliver primary care and treatments. AI chatbots can send out notifications for appointments, can also help arrange appointments and answer FAQs. Patients can get help and support from virtual assistants around-the-clock for managing their sadness and anxiety. These services can offer individuals personalized coping mechanisms, relaxation techniques, and other resources to assist them to manage their symptoms.??

• Predictive Analytics??

Predictive analytics in healthcare can help to identify patients at-risk at home to reduce hospital readmissions, recognize equipment maintenance, detect early indicators of patient deterioration in the ICU and general ward etc. Natural Language Processing (NLP) can also be used to increase the precision of clinical documentation, including medical records.??

• Electronic Health Records???

EHR data banks can be organized using AI to discover critical records, assess the quality of care, etc. The AI algorithms, with the help of various software, can be trained to collect or categorize the records based on the specific patient, sickness, treatment given, equipment used, respective doctor, etc. It can also be made to work with other healthcare systems, enabling the secure exchange of patient data between healthcare professionals.?

• Drug discovery?

Biotech is using AI and machine learning to develop drugs, which could result in the development of dozens of new medications. It is assisting businesses in using massive data sets to efficiently identify patient response markers and create more efficient and economical drugs having a higher possibility of success during the initial stages of development.??

What lies ahead???

In 2030, patients will likely be welcomed by an AI-powered virtual assistant who will direct them to the right department depending on their symptoms and medical background. It would organize appointments and respond to patient's questions and concerns. Robots powered by artificial intelligence will help surgeons carry out complex procedures more precisely and accurately. Speech and text recognition will be more frequently used in situations including therapeutic communication and clinical notetaking. Yes, the future of AI in healthcare holds tremendous promise for improving patient care and medical research!?

However, in healthcare, compassionate care is essential to better understand the patient’s needs and concerns and to provide care that is tailored to their individual needs. Although AI is capable of processing enormous quantities of data and identifying patterns, it is still unclear if it possesses the same emotional intelligence and intuition as medical professionals. Overall, AI can be useful for streamlining healthcare processes, enhancing patient outcomes, and improving the quality of care.??