Artificial Intelligence in healthcare and clinical practice in the COVID era – Health Europa
Automation during the industrial revolution led to a profound change in working practices across the 18th and 19th centuries. Currently, we are in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution, with globalisation and automation affecting every aspect of our working lives and leisure activities. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a further driver for change, altering how we work and interact with remote working and reduction of human interaction at the centre of global initiatives to try and reduce the spread of the virus.
Healthcare systems generate large quantities of complex datasets pertaining to patients. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can offer solutions to medical problems by attempting to replicate decisions that would otherwise require human intelligence. Specific algorithms can be created in order to make associations between data and predict future outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated change within healthcare systems and driven interest in automated algorithms capable of assisting hospitals in diagnostics, decision making and repetitive clerical tasks thus reducing the potential footfall of staff on site. Automation and intelligent algorithms that learn and improve with further iterative cycles require data and the ethics behind large personal data sets, the challenges of anonymisation remain in their infancy.
AI applications within healthcare can be broadly categorised into diagnosis, research, management and system analysis. Ultimately in the time of COVID, workforce adaptations have led healthcare providers to use their workforce wisely, reducing the staff requirements on site and moving towards remote working.
Healthcare records in most countries have moved from paper-based records and notes to digital media. The electronic health record (EHR) allows the capture of large quantities of data across patient groups. Future patient care aims to develop tailored treatments for patients in a cost-effective manner.
The use of large datasets requires an element of data curation. Data needs to be retrieved from multiple disparate data sources. Data needs to then be cleaned to remove anomalies and harmonised to ensure similar data sets are compared across patient records. An element of these processes needs human oversight to ensure the correct data is fed into the algorithms.
Administrative applications are resource-heavy and repetitive. These applications include workflow management such as uploading referral letters from primary care, setting up referral assessment services and booking patients to the correct service provider in secondary care. Robotic process automation (RPA) consists of computer programmes that obey rules for these manual, resource-heavy tasks.
Additionally, process management systems (PMS), while embedded within commercial businesses, are still in their infancy within a healthcare application. Patients are individuals and tailoring care to them necessitates being able to react to changing physiological parameters within the confines of the organisation. In order to standardise care, clinical pathways have been developed to manage patient care from referral, to ordering diagnostic tests and eventual treatment pathway. While standardisation across patient groups allows for automation of some of these processes (templates for referral, standard test orders), allowing a more tailored approach which is patient-specific is the ultimate goal; thus generating a conflict to resolve between standardisation and a tailored patient approach specific to their individual needs.
Flexibility within a process management system requires technological skills to allow tasks to be postponed or reorganised. However, healthcare professionals lack the technical skillset to implement this, requiring a user-friendly interface. Further work in user interface and user experience (UI/UX) is therefore required to ensure a system that allows flexibility without losing the advantages of rapid automation and processing of large numbers of patients within the pathway management systems.
Increasingly call centre staff for websites have been replaced by chatbots that use natural language processing (NLP) to provide callers with information and manage queries. A chatbot is a type of AI programme that can conduct an intelligent conversation via text or auditory methods. It is predicted that by 2025 the global chatbot market will be worth $1.23bn. For hospitals dealing with upwards of 10,000 patient appointments per week, the use of chatbots to handle patient queries regarding appointment queries is still in its infancy when compared to more established sectors such as banking or commerce.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for rapid screening and testing of patients to improve treatment pathways and also reduce the risk of cross infection. Clinical testing requires taking biological samples from patients which can be resource heavy and incorporates a time lag before results are available from real-time polymerase chain reaction testing (RT-PCR). The use of AI within this environment accessing electronic health records (EHR) of routinely ordered tests and vital signs can produce an effective tool to screen patients in emergency departments and hospital admission units.
Predictive analytics utilise AI algorithms to analyse healthcare data from EHRs to predict future outcomes thus aiming to improve outcomes and the patient experience as well as reducing costs. Data collected from EHRs can be supplemented with data from wearable technology and medical devices. Risk prediction models utilising AI would improve with successive data collection cycles aiming to supplement decision making by clinicians. Applications include management of chronic diseases such as chronic renal failure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Specific patient populations can vary across geographical healthcare providers and the ability of a predictive model to learn from its local population provides an advantage over established static modelling. Scalability across healthcare providers can therefore be challenging due to differences in socio-economic factors and populations based on geographical location. The ethical implications in terms of health insurance and risk stratification are in their infancy; and issues around data governance and data sharing may have a significant impact that is yet to be fully regulated.
Diagnostic applications of AI technological advances have exploded over the past ten years with multiple applications. Imaging studies such as breast mammograms or histological analysis rely on skilled scientists or clinicians performing repetitive tasks to manually identify abnormalities. An inaccurate diagnosis can have serious consequences for patient care. AI programmes can be trained to perform these tasks and have shown an accuracy in correctly diagnosing abnormalities which in some studies has been shown to be as accurate as a trained clinician. Further future applications in diagnostic imaging include the field of radiomics which extracts nuanced features peculiar to imaging modalities such as wavelength, texture and shape. This additional information can provide further data for diagnosis and prognostic indicators specific to patients.
With the potential application of AI within the healthcare setting, the question remains how will this impact the workforce? The fourth industrial revolution has 50% of companies to predict that by 2022, automation will decrease their numbers of full-time staff and that by 2030 robots will replace 800 million workers across the world (McKinsey Global Institute reports). Automation of clerical processes and care pathways could potentially impact on the non-clinical workforce within a healthcare setting. Specialties such as radiology where imaging reports can be automated and produced by AI algorithms may soon be the reality. The ethics of data sharing and the implications for patients and their insurers is a further area of controversy. We enter a brave new world.
Caroline B HingYasmin AntoniouAI for Goodwww.aiforgood.co.uk
This article is from issue 15 of Health Europa. Clickhere to get your free subscription today.
Read the original:
Artificial Intelligence in healthcare and clinical practice in the COVID era - Health Europa
- Whats Next in Artificial Intelligence: Agents that can do more than chatbots - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Geopolitics of artificial intelligence to be focus of major summit in Paris; AP explains - Yahoo - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Geopolitics of artificial intelligence to be focus of major summit in Paris; AP explains - The Associated Press - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- 3 Top Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy in February - MSN - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Geopolitics of artificial intelligence to be focus of major summit in Paris; AP explains - Lufkin Daily News - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- 2 of the Hottest Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks on the Planet Can Plunge Up to 94%, According to Select Wall Street Analysts - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- These 2 Stocks Are Leading the Data Center Artificial Intelligence (AI) Trend, but Are They Buys Right Now? - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Book Review | Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit - LSE - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- The Artificial Intelligence Action Summit In France: Maintaining The Dialogue On Global AI Regulation - Forrester - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Is prediction the next frontier for artificial intelligence? - Healthcare IT News - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- The Artificial Intelligence in Medicines Market Is Set to Reach $18,119 Million | CAGR of 49.6% - openPR - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Geopolitics of artificial intelligence to be focus of major summit in Paris; AP explains - The Audubon County Advocate Journal - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Around and About with Richard McCarthy: Asking AI about itself: Will artificial intelligence ever surpass humankind? - GazetteNET - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Will the Paris artificial intelligence summit set a unified approach to AI governanceor just be another conference? - Bulletin of the Atomic... - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Apple Stock Jumps on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Driving iPhone Sales. Here's Why It's Not Getting Crushed by the DeepSeek Launch. - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Who will win the race to Artificial General Intelligence? - The Indian Express - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Prediction: This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chip Stock Will Win Big From DeepSeek's Feat - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Prediction: 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Will Be Worth More Than Nvidia 3 Years From Now - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- State of Louisiana Launches Innovation Brand, Announces Creation of $50 Million Growth Fund and Artificial Intelligence Research Institute - Louisiana... - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Using smart technologies and artificial intelligence in food packaging can reduce food waste - Yahoo News Canada - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- BigBear.ai Wins Department of Defense Contract to Prototype Near-Peer Adversary Geopolitical Risk Analysis for Chief Digital and Artificial... - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Should Investors Change Their Artificial Intelligence (AI) Investment Strategy After the DeepSeek Launch? - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- 1 Unstoppable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock to Buy Before It Punches Its Ticket to the $4 Trillion Club - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Got 10 Years and $1000? These 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Are Set to Soar. - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- 1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Down 33% to Buy Hand Over Fist, According to Wall Street - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Rihanna Calls Out Use of Artificial Intelligence on Her Voice to Doctor a Clip of Her Speaking - Billboard - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- 3 Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy in February - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Buying This Top Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Looks Like a No-Brainer Right Now - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Is Arm Stock a Buy After the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chip Designer Released Its Quarterly Earnings Report? - The Motley Fool - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence, the Academy, And A New Studia Humanitatis - Minding The Campus - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- The Trump Administrations Artificial Intelligence Rollback Is a Chance to Rethink AI Policy - Ms. Magazine - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Workday layoffs: California-based company lays off 1,750 employees, 8.5% of its workforce in favor of artificial intelligence - ABC7 Los Angeles - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- It can really transform lives: Navigating the ethical landscape of artificial intelligence - WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Legal Restrictions Governing Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace - Law.com - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Google drops AI weapons banwhat it means for the future of artificial intelligence - VentureBeat - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- MPs to scrutinise use of artificial intelligence in the finance sector - ComputerWeekly.com - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Catalyzing Change: Innovation and Efficiency through Artificial Intelligence in Contracting - United States Army - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- STSD to hear cost breakdown, address artificial intelligence in education - The Wellsboro Gazette - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- OECD activities during the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit - OECD - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Tether Ventures Into Artificial Intelligence With New Application Suite - Bitcoin.com News - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Will Artificial Intelligence Kill Acting? Nicholas Cage Thinks It Could - Movieguide - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- 3 Reasons to Buy This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock on the Dip - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- 1 No-Brainer Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock to Buy With $35 and Hold for the Long Run - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Google renounces its promise not to develop weapons with artificial intelligence - Mezha.Media - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- DeepSeek Just Changed Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forever. 2 Surprising Winners From Its Innovation. - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- FUTURE-AI: international consensus guideline for trustworthy and deployable artificial intelligence in healthcare - The BMJ - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- DeepSeek Just Exposed the Biggest Flaw of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Revolution - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence Is Here: How The Innovative Technology Is Taking Over The Stateline - WREX.com - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- The Ultimate Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy in 2025 - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- This Magnificent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Has Shot Up Over 175% in Just 3 Months, and It Could Soar Higher in 2025 - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence is bringing nuclear power back from the dead maybe even in California - CalMatters - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Got $5,000? These Are 3 of the Cheapest Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy Right Now - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Compass Capital partners with MIT Sloan School of Management on an artificial intelligence project - ZAWYA - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- 3 No-Brainer Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy With $500 Right Now - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Nvidia vs. Alphabet: Which Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Should You Buy After the Emergence of China's DeepSeek? - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- A look inside the Trump administration approach to artificial intelligence - Federal News Network - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Cardiology Market Industry Growth Trends: Market Forecast and Revenue Share by 2031 - openPR - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Riverhead hospital employees picket for raises, protections from artificial intelligence - RiverheadLOCAL - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- 1 Wall Street Analyst Thinks This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chip Stock Could Benefit From DeepSeek's Breakthrough - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- 1 No-Brainer Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock That Will Crush the Market in 2025 - The Motley Fool - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Deliver Stunning Returns This Year - The Motley Fool - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Trumps White House and the New Artificial Intelligence Era - The Dispatch - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence confirms it - these are the jobs that will become extinct in the next 5 years - Unin Rayo - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- My Top 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks for 2025 (Hint: Nvidia Is Not One of Them) - Nasdaq - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence bill passes in the Arkansas House - THV11.com KTHV - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Chen elected fellow of Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence - The Source - WashU - WashU - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Nvidia Plummeted Today -- Time to Buy the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Leader's Stock? - The Motley Fool - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Super Micro Computer Plummeted Today -- Is It Time to Buy the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock? - The Motley Fool - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- The Brief: Impact practitioners on the perils and possibilities of artificial intelligence - ImpactAlpha - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- 3 Mega-Cap Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Wall Street Thinks Will Soar the Most Over the Next 12 Months - sharewise - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- 3 Mega-Cap Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Wall Street Thinks Will Soar the Most Over the Next 12 Months - The Motley Fool - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Ask how you can do human good: artificial intelligence and the future at HKS - Harvard Kennedy School - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- This Unstoppable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Climbed 90% in 2024, and Its Still a Buy at Todays Price - MSN - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Nvidia Plummeted Today -- Time to Buy the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Leader's Stock? - MSN - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence: key updates and developments (20 27 January) - Lexology - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Here's 1 Trillion-Dollar Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chip Stock to Buy Hand Over Fist While It's Still a Bargain - The Motley Fool - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence curriculum being questioned as the future of education in Pennsylvania 'cyber charters' - Beaver County Radio - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Why Rezolve Could Be the Next Big Name in Artificial Intelligence - MarketBeat - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence Market to Hit $3819.2 Billion By 2034, US Leading the Way in Artificial Intelligence - EIN News - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump Just Announced Project Stargate: 3 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Profit From the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Buildout - The... - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]