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The Future is Here: How AI Could Impact Health Care in 2021 

 

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when the thought of unlocking your cell phone via facial recognition seemed like space age science fiction. Today, nearly every smartphone on the planet has that capability, and it would be fair to assume that many of us likely use these features without thinking twice, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

AI is hardly a new concept—the term was actually first coined in the 1950s—but because of a confluence of factors, its maturation has accelerated in recent years, specifically within the health care space, and especially since the beginning of COVID-19. 

As we mentioned in our 2021 health care preview, our hope is that the tragedy and loss accompanying the pandemic will ultimately fuel the resurgence of a system ripe for rebirth. Today, we’ll give our thoughts on a few ways that AI could factor into those plans in 2021 and beyond.

 

Predictive modeling will continue to expand

COVID-19 provided an interesting use case for how AI and machine learning can be used for on-the-spot predictive modeling. According to coverage of a study published in Radiology: Artificial Intelligence, an AI tool developed and used by a team of practitioners at Mount Sinai could rapidly predict outcomes of COVID-19 patients in the ER.

The tool used an assortment of electronic health records (EHRs), lab tests, and chest x-rays to train an algorithm to determine levels of risk of intubation or death within 30 days of a patient’s arrival to the hospital. Those findings were then used to inform patient care, aiding practitioners in anticipating a worsening of symptoms.

While it’s certainly exciting that this new AI tool was able to be deployed in response to the a global pandemic, the thing to remember is that it’s a repeatable exercise. In the future, this type of modeling could be used for all kinds of patient concerns, and we expect to see more of that in 2021.

 

More precise diagnoses are on the way

Despite being some of the most intelligent humans in the world, doctors have a limit to what they are able to do in a day. With the help of programmable AI technology, medical professionals can begin to soar to new heights and increase progress. After all, AI doesn’t require sleep. 

By analyzing large datasets, machine learning can more accurately and swiftly identify health concerns ranging from cancer to congenital heart birth defects. While widespread use of AI for diagnosing a multitude of health conditions is still years away—and there are some biases to clean up—we think there will be some continued momentum in the right direction throughout this year.

 

Patient experiences will start to improve

So much about health care is nebulous, but one thing that’s been proven time and again is that patients who have better health care experiences tend to have better health outcomes. Fortunately, when appropriately instituted, AI can heavily enhance a patient’s experience. Whether it’s AI-based chatbots or telehealth platforms that connect immobile, underprivileged or rural patients with quality care providers, the technology can make communications considerably easier. And because AI requires less physical infrastructure that providers will have to pay for (think equipment, staffing, office space, etc.), it could also signify lower costs for patients in 2021.

 

Staff gets a much-needed break

Thus far, everything we’ve talked about has been in favor of the patient—but AI has the potential to positively impact staff as well. The health care industry relies on EHRs for continuity of care, but much of the existing functionality is clunky and cumbersome to use. Enter AI, which can seamlessly integrate machine learning and natural language processing to make documentation a breeze.

As more offices and hospitals move toward AI-enabled EHR systems, medical transcription capabilities can ease frustrations and alleviate burnout among staff. Using AI-powered voice search can also help staff quickly find notes on any keyword, topic or diagnosis.

Promaxo is proud of our place within the AI universe and thrilled to contribute to the improvement of patient experiences and outcomes.

At this point last year, no one could have predicted what the rest of the year had in store, so it’s fair to say that everything you’ve read here is pure conjecture. After the year we’ve just had, would anyone feel confident making sweeping guesses about the future? However, knowing what we know, we’re betting AI plays a part in some form or fashion.

Want to learn about the Promaxo MRI system and how our AI technology works? Read about our technology on the official Promaxo website.