AI is poised to revolutionise the healthcare industry, providing numerous opportunities to streamline processes, improve patient outcomes, and enhance efficiency in healthcare delivery. The technology provides a vast and complex network of algorithms, machine learning, and deep learning algorithms that can analyse vast amounts of medical data and provide actionable insights, improve decision-making and reduce the burden on healthcare providers.
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking us into a new medical era. We are not replacing radiologists. However, radiologists are facing a lot of problems with findings in medical images. Thus, the future of healthcare is in AI because the amount of data is immense, and with all the technologies of modalities, there will be a huge amount of data and a human being cannot interpret all this,” said Charbel Makhoul, AI Solution and Healthcare IT Director — Russia, Turkey, Middle East and Africa at Canon Medical, who showcased some of their advanced medical solutions that integrate artificial intelligence and deep learning at Arab Health.
The summation of all this data as it grows whether it is created, captured, or replicated – has been termed the Global Datasphere, and it is growing at an unprecedented rate. experiencing tremendous growth. IDC predicts that the Global Datasphere will grow from 33 Zettabytes (ZB) in 2018 to 175 ZB by 2025. This translates to approximately 175 billion terabytes. Healthcare data alone is set to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 36 per cent during this period, outpacing other industries such as manufacturing, financial services and media.
In recent years, the healthcare industry has witnessed major advances in AI, with numerous applications and use cases that are helping healthcare providers improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency. From virtual assistants, chatbots, and predictive analytics to machine learning-powered diagnostic tools, it is increasingly becoming a vital tool for the industry worldwide.
One of the key areas being transformed in healthcare is disease diagnosis. AI algorithms can analyse millions of medical documents including imaging scans, lab results, and patient histories, and provide doctors with more accurate and faster diagnoses. In fact, a study by Stanford University found that an AI algorithm was better than human radiologists at detecting breast cancer in mammograms, with a diagnostic accuracy rate of 89 per cent compared to 86 per cent for human radiologists.
Personalised medicine is also being transformed due to AI, as algorithms can parse vast stores of insight and information, including genomic data, patient histories, and lifestyle factors to provide highly customised treatment plans and recommendations. This not only helps improve patient outcomes but also reduces costs, as the technology can help identify and avoid ineffective treatments. A recent study by the Harvard Medical School found that AI algorithms were able to recommend personalised treatment plans for patients with depression with an accuracy rate of 77 per cent. This personalisation also translates into other areas of healthcare provision, as the machine learning elements of AI have given rise to new ways of interacting with patients. Virtual assistants, chatbots, and other AI-powered tools are providing patients with access to healthcare services 24/7, reducing wait times, and improving overall patient satisfaction.
Another aspect of healthcare being transformed by AI is the optimisation of clinical workflows. Algorithms can help healthcare providers manage patient queues, reduce wait times, and optimise staffing levels, providing a more efficient and effective healthcare experience for both patients and providers. A study by McKinsey found that AI algorithms can help healthcare providers reduce patient wait times by up to 35 per cent.
The much-needed transformation of healthcare delivery, improved patient outcomes and reduced costs, clearly make AI a critical tool that cannot be ignored by healthcare sectors worldwide.
This article appears in the Daily Dose 2023. Read the full issue online today.
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