Have you ever thought about how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we get medical care?
From figuring out what diseases people have to creating personalized treatment plans, AI is making a big impact in healthcare.
Let’s take a look at 15 exciting ways AI is helping improve patient care and transforming the industry!
What is AI in Healthcare?
AI in healthcare uses technologies like machine learning and deep learning to make things better for both doctors and patients. These tools help analyze data faster and more accurately, which leads to quicker diagnosis, better resource management, and faster access to health records. This means patients get more personalized and proactive care.
A survey by Morgan Stanley Research found that 94% of businesses in the healthcare field use artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning in some way. These highlights areas like biopharma, healthcare services, life sciences, diagnostics, and medical technology as growing fields where technology will increasingly connect with healthcare.
Statista also points out that AI in healthcare is expected to grow significantly, with the market potentially reaching $188 billion by 2030. This technology could save over 250,000 lives each year!
However, most people are still determining if using AI in healthcare will actually improve health outcomes. A survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted from December 12-18, 2022, asked 11,004 adults in the U.S. about this issue.
Only 38% believe that AI can help diagnose diseases and recommend treatments effectively, while 33% think it might make things worse, and 27% feel it won’t change much at all.
This reflects how public opinion about AI is still developing, especially as AI technologies are being adopted in many industries. There’s a growing discussion about both the benefits and risks of using AI in society.
15 Use Cases of AI in Healthcare
To help you understand the exciting developments in AI for healthcare, here are 15 cases of how it’s being used in real life.
Healthcare Communication Apps
Imagine a world where healthcare teams can communicate seamlessly, share information instantly, and collaborate effectively. Thanks to healthcare communication applications, that world is becoming a reality. These innovative tools are changing how healthcare professionals interact, improving patient care and boosting overall efficiency.
HosTalky is one powerful tool designed to improve communication and productivity in healthcare. Its features are made specifically for healthcare, creating a positive and organized work environment.
It combines all messages and information into one easy-to-use app, simplifying communication and working efficiently. The CareID system helps colleagues connect through secure messaging. It also includes shared reminders and note-taking features to keep everyone on track with their tasks.
HosTalky reduces stress and helps healthcare professionals focus on patient care. It’s more than just an app; it transforms how healthcare teams communicate, leading to better productivity and higher-quality care.
Medical Imaging Analysis and Diagnostics
Medical examinations produce a huge amount of information, like MRI images, ultrasound results, and CT scans, which can be very time-consuming for doctors to analyze. However, AI technologies are changing this by helping to analyze these images more efficiently.
With AI systems, doctors can automate medical document recording, saving time and allowing them to focus on important cases that need quick and accurate diagnoses.
Additionally, AI can analyze large amounts of data quickly and compare it with previous studies of the same patient, helping doctors detect patterns and find crucial information faster.
Drug discovery and development
Generative AI is helping speed up the process of discovering and developing new drugs in pharmaceutical research. AI can create chemical compounds with specific properties by analyzing molecular structures and biological data. It makes it easier to quickly analyze large amounts of data, helping researchers find promising candidates for clinical trials and predict possible side effects.
Normally, developing a new drug can take 12 to 15 years and cost a lot of money, but with generative AI, the time for developing drugs for pulmonary fibrosis was cut down to just 30 months for the early stages.
For example, Atomwise used AI to quickly identify potential drug candidates, generating 40,000 new chemical compounds in just six hours!
AI-Assisted Surgical Procedures
AI is also improving surgical procedures in healthcare, making them more precise and safer for patients. Combining human skills with advanced technology, like robotics and machine learning, AI helps surgeons perform complex surgeries with great accuracy.
For example, AI-powered surgical robots can analyze real-time images during an operation to guide instruments very precisely, reducing damage to surrounding tissues and lowering the risk of complications.
Additionally, AI can analyze a patient’s specific anatomy to create personalized surgical plans and improve outcomes.
Detecting Dementia
According to a 2018 study, dementia is a serious illness that costs nearly $500 billion each year around the world. Almost 1 in 3 children born in 2015 and later are expected to develop dementia, so finding it early could save about $118,000 per patient.
Cognitive Neurosciences created a special diagnostic tool that runs a full cognitive test on Apple iOS devices. This test takes just 5 minutes and shows participants various natural images, asking them to quickly say whether they’ve seen certain types of images before.
The AI then compares their responses with a large dataset to evaluate how well they did based on accuracy, speed, and the types of images. This helps assess how well different parts of the brain are functioning, allowing for early detection of dementia and other mental issues, which can also be monitored remotely for any changes.
Virtual Assistants and Chatbots
Virtual health assistants make it easy for patients to access healthcare services through chats. These AI chatbots work with electronic health records, allowing patients to schedule, change, or cancel appointments without talking to a human.
They also send personalized medication reminders, helping patients stick to their treatment plans through timely alerts on mobile apps or smart devices.
For example, if a patient with arthritis wants to know if they can start a new exercise after their diagnosis, an AI chatbot can provide advice based on their medical history, helping them navigate conflicting information online.
Patient Data Processing
One important use of artificial intelligence in healthcare is its ability to quickly process a lot of patient data. For example, Google’s DeepMind Health uses AI to analyze patient records, helping doctors spot patients who might be getting worse.
In one case, their AI system reduced the number of incorrect alerts (false positives) by 25% when looking at mammography results in the UK, while still accurately identifying all actual cases (true positives). This means the AI gets better over time without missing important details.
Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
AI technology is becoming essential for managing electronic health records (EHR). It helps analyze large amounts of medical data to find patterns that can prevent and treat diseases. For example, AI can identify patients who are at high risk for conditions like diabetes or heart disease based on their medical history, lifestyle, and genetics.
It also looks for medication patterns to avoid harmful drug interactions and can suggest other treatment options. Oracle Health uses AI in its EHR systems to improve data accuracy, make processes more efficient, and better coordinate patient care.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Clinical Documentation
Natural Language Processing (NLP) is used in healthcare to help with clinical documentation. For example, Nuance Communications uses AI to convert spoken clinical notes into written text, making it easier for healthcare providers to document information.
This technology saves time and reduces paperwork, allowing doctors and nurses to spend more time caring for their patients.
Remote Patient Assistance
AI helps with remote monitoring and patient support, making healthcare more convenient and accessible. This means patients can get real-time medical help, share their health information, and receive treatment guidance from home.
Companies in healthcare use AI to analyze this data, spotting trends and potential problems early. This proactive approach can lead to fewer hospital visits and more efficient care.
For example, Philips’ HealthSuite Digital Platform uses AI to keep track of patients’ vital signs from a distance, allowing for early intervention and reducing the chances of patients needing to return to the hospital.
Mental Health Support
Woebot is an AI chatbot that helps with mental health by conversing with users and checking in on their feelings. It provides easy access to mental health support and encourages people to take care of their emotional well-being.
Helping Teenagers with Health And Sex Lives
AI-powered chatbots are now used in many industries where customer service is essential, but conversations in healthcare can be more complex because they involve personal health and medical needs. Planned Parenthood wanted to create a tool for teenagers to ask questions about sex, relationships, and growing up.
Since teens might not use the right medical terms, they teamed up with LogMeIn and Bold360, which used AI to help understand what the users really meant. Their chatbot, Roo, can provide helpful and friendly responses, making it easier for teens to discuss sensitive topics. In less than six months, Roo answered nearly 800,000 questions, with 81% of the users being teenagers.
Predictive Analytics for Disease Outbreaks
BlueDot uses AI to analyze information from different sources, such as news reports and airline ticket sales, to predict and track the spread of infectious diseases. This helps provide early warnings about possible outbreaks, allowing health officials to respond quickly and control the situation before it gets worse.
Diagnosing Autism with a HIPAA-Compliant Platform
Cognoa is a digital health company that has created an AI tool to detect early signs of autism in children, achieving a 90% accuracy rate. This tool is so effective that it has received special recognition from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for quick review. To ensure the safety of sensitive data used in its algorithms, Cognoa collects all information anonymously.
They partnered with Immuta, a company that provides software to manage data access and privacy, ensuring they follow all necessary rules. This helps Cognoa gather the data needed for their AI while keeping everything compliant with health regulations.
Restoration of Lost Capabilities
AI is making exciting progress in helping people regain lost abilities, like speech or movement, by interpreting signals from the brain or nerves.
For example, researchers in bioelectronic medicine are implanting microchips into the brains of people with tetraplegia to connect the brain with the spine, allowing paralyzed individuals to move their hands and feel sensations again.
Additionally, researchers at GrapheneX-UTS have created a system that can turn paralyzed individuals’ silent thoughts into text, helping those who can’t speak due to illness or injury communicate. This technology could also be used to control bionic hands, making it a game-changer for many.
What is the Future of AI in Healthcare?
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve healthcare significantly. It can help doctors make more accurate diagnoses and develop personalized treatment plans. While there are still some challenges to overcome, AI is improving at analyzing medical images and understanding what doctors and patients say.
The biggest problem isn’t whether AI is competent enough but getting doctors to use it daily. AI systems need to be approved by the government, work with existing medical records, be similar to other AI systems, be taught to doctors, and be paid for. These challenges will be solved, but it will take a long time.
In the next few years, we’ll see some AI used in hospitals, but it won’t replace doctors. Instead, AI will help doctors do their jobs better. Doctors can focus on things only humans can do, like being kind to patients and understanding the big picture.
FAQs
How accurate is AI in healthcare?
AI’s accuracy in healthcare depends on the specific application and the quality of the data used. In many cases, AI can outperform humans in tasks like image analysis and data pattern recognition.
Is AI in healthcare ethical?
Ethical concerns in AI healthcare include data privacy, bias, and the potential for job displacement. Ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability is crucial.
How does AI reduce human error in healthcare?
AI can reduce human error by automating tasks, analyzing data more accurately, and providing decision support.
Can we trust AI in healthcare?
Trust in AI depends on its reliability, transparency, and accountability. Regular audits, ethical guidelines, and user education are essential to build trust.