5 Ways Artificial Intelligence Could Revolutionize Healthcare

Created in the 1950s, the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to a machine or computer capable of learning from its interactions with human users. Today, AI is everywhere: from recognizing people in your photos on Facebook to digital assistants that learn from every user interaction (like Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa).

This technology has also been revolutionizing the healthcare industry for some years now. An increasing demand for personalized medicine has made investments in the sector more and more common, and the use of AI tech in the healthcare market was projected to reach $6.6 billion by 2021.

Let’s take a look at five ways artificial intelligence has already revolutionized medicine.

1. Machine Learning

Machine learning is when a computer system can learn and adapt from the analysis of data patterns, algorithms, and statistical models. To put it simply, a computer can scan tons of data for specific information that might otherwise go unnoticed (or take ten times longer to locate) by the human eye.

2. Drug Discovery

Despite the efficient pace at which vaccines for COVID-19 are being developed, it often takes significant time and expense for a new drug to reach the market. The interval between research and commercialization lasts about 12 years, and only five out of every 5,000 drugs make it to the human testing stage. Fortunately, the application of AI in the area has made all the processes a little faster and safer.

Digital systems analyze databases on existing drugs to identify patterns that prove that a particular compound may also be beneficial to treating some other disease. Tests that would have lasted years the old way can now be done in a few months.

3. Precision Medication

Technology can also help doctors in their decision-making. Millions of health data and diagnoses can be scanned by digital systems, allowing reviews of medical journals, symptoms, and case studies very quickly.

Through pattern recognition, AI can identify patients at risk of developing a serious condition. Precision medication is difficult to determine, as the correct treatment for each patient depends on their physical characteristics and condition. But with the help of AI, all the patient’s medical data can be tracked to help find the most effective medication.

4. Clinical Workflow Solutions

Owners or managers of medical clinics and private practices know that administrative tasks sometimes get out of hand. In this department too, AI can help by providing customized clinical workflow solutions. 

It can do so by optimizing and automating various tasks involved in the clinical workflow. The main aim of automating the clinical workflow is to make it more efficient and error-free. AI can play a role in this by providing accurate and up-to-date information about the patient’s condition. 

With more accurate patient records, there would also be fewer claim denials, thus reducing the cost of healthcare and increasing profits – exactly what revenue cycle management is all about.

AI can also help in automating repetitive tasks involved in the clinical workflow, which frees up time so that providers can focus on diagnosis and effective treatment plans.  

5. Robotic Assistance

It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but robots are already being used routinely in operating rooms to improve efficiency in treating patients.

Since 2017, for example, “robot doctors” have been used in microsurgeries where the human hand would not have the same ability. On the other hand, semi-automated surgical robots can easily suture tiny blood vessels.

In larger and more advanced hospitals, there are already robots performing dental procedures without human assistance and even robots responsible for transport, which roam the corridors carrying medical supplies and avoiding exposing the human staff to diseases.

The Future Is Now

The use of AI in our daily lives seemed like sci-fi back then, but today it’s here to stay. It doesn’t mean that computers will carry out laboratory tests entirely, nor that robots will replace doctors in operating rooms. But yes, the technology is available and will be used to work alongside the human experts, not in their place.

Although some solutions are still costly and complicated, technological advances in healthcare are expected to completely revolutionize how we see a hospital and medical care in general.

Thanks to AI, healthcare is also set to get cheaper and more efficient. The ability of machines to quickly analyze tons of medical histories will also transform the way we deal with chronic illness. Better late than never.

Similar Stories