
27 Companies Changing Health Outcomes Through AI
Artificial intelligence in healthcare can help cut costs of on-going health operations and impact the quality of care for patients everywhere. And by diagnosing diseases early, AI can also improve patient outcomes. No matter how you look at it, artificial intelligence has huge potential in healthcare.
In this comprehensive guide, we shall cover two primary use cases of artificial intelligence in healthcare: Clinical Decision Support and Information Management.
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How is artificial intelligence used in the medical field today?
Despite being years from having its greatest impact, Artificial Intelligence is already making major inroads in healthcare, influencing innovations and boosting efficiency in just about every facet of the industry. At the very core, AI is making healthcare facilities more efficient and improving the lives providers and patients by automating tasks for a fraction of the cost and time. Speaking of numbers, healthcare AI will undoubtedly become one of the most rapidly growing investments in the industry. While health AI industry valuation stood at $600 million back in 2014, it’s expected to hit a whopping $150 billion by 2026. Interestingly, AI applications in healthcare are eclectic, ranging from surgery-aide robots to faster discovery of drugs, and everything in between. What’s more, these AI applications in healthcare go beyond treatments and diagnostics, covering every bit of the industry, from service delivery to supply chain management. If you are interested in seeing how AI is transforming pharma, be sure to check this in-depth article from Healthcareweekly. There are plenty of benefits that come with embracing the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare – and investing in it. For starters, AI has proven to be quite effective and accurate. One study by Mayo Clinic discovered that incorporating AI into a widely available and cost-effective EKG (electrocardiogram) can enable doctors to detect early signs of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction with a high level of accuracy. This is a well-known precursor to cardiovascular conditions like heart failure. Another team of scientists at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, in collaboration with researchers at UCL (a subsidiary of Alphabet’s DeepMind), has found that AI-driven software can sift through 3D scans to pinpoint up to 50 common eye diseases as accurately as the best doctors.Artificial Intelligence & clinical decision support
In the era of big data, artificial intelligence powered clinical decision support systems can be designed to enhance the quality and accuracy of the decision-making process in healthcare. In other words, AI-driven software engines can be used to leverage to improve diagnosis and help doctors make better, more informed decisions faster. The endgame here is to simply complex processes and make it easier to arrive at more conclusive and precise medical decisions.Artificial Intelligence & medical information management
Hospitals, clinical research centers, and other healthcare facilities gather and store a ton of patient, financial, and workforce data. By using AI to better manage information and knowledge in a healthcare environment, patients can get to doctors faster or receive top-notch consultation and care virtually. More importantly, doctors can learn through AI-driven educational modules. Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of these use cases, let’s take a quick look at the state of artificial intelligence in healthcare.1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare market
- Employees – AI has the potential to lighten the burden on the medical workforce and provide clinicians with powerful tools to do their jobs better.
- Consumers – Patients are eager to see what AI has in store for them. In fact, according to a recent survey, consumers are 6x more likely to see artificial intelligence as making a positive impact on communities than any other type of technology. More specifically, consumers expect that AI will improve health quality and make the patient experience holistic and seamless.
- Security – In the age where cyber attacks are commonplace, healthcare companies lose an average of $455 per breach for each individual record that is compromised. Of course, they don’t just lose money, they also suffer a consumer trust loss. If applied creatively, AI can bring greater organization, interoperability, transparency, and efficiency, the sum total of which leads to more focus on healthcare data security protection.
- Institutional Readiness – Healthcare organizations can integrate AI into their governance and structure. Specifically, they can enable an AI-smart workplace culture and workforce that will leverage the technology to improve service quality, patient outcomes, and overall efficiency.
2. AI in healthcare – known current limitations
- The Problem with Out-of-the-Box AI solutions – AI in healthcare usually delivers black box solutions. However, in the medical arena, getting the answer to “why” questions is of critical importance. Doctors, physicians, and other care providers want to know the reasoning behind a recommendation or diagnosis. This is a crucial step in setting up and long-term or effective treatment plan. After all, the final word rests with the doctor.
- Data Security Breaches and Privacy Issues – healthcare data is usually made of very sensitive patient information. And, therefore, appropriate security measures must be adopted by organizations to ensure that patient information is protected against cyber attacks and that only relevant people should have access to them. This can be a stumbling block for implementation of AI application in healthcare.
- Startup Issues – Most AI companies crafting solutions for the healthcare industry fall under the umbrella of startups. Oftentimes that means there’ll be adoption problems initially as use case studies are documented and large healthcare organizations start to ‘trust’ the AI. Before then, most stakeholders and investors will be hesitant to leverage artificial intelligence until they are furnished with feasibility and applicability studies.
- Compliance and Regulation Issues – Handling healthcare/patient data means that AI companies have to be compliant with several different laws and regulations like HIPAA, HITRUST, ISO, and so forth. The whole process of bringing their data collection, storage, and use practices up to these codes can be expensive and might take a huge chunk of crucial time they could have taken the product to market.
Examples of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare
1. Clinical Decision Support
2. IDx: Diabetic Retinopathy with AI
Location: Coralville, IA How IDx is using artificial intelligence in healthcare: The Coralville-based firm has developed an AI-powered diagnostic system that allows clinicians to detect diabetic retinopathy by simply studying a batch of images of the retina. The company’s flagship AI-powered product, IDx-DR, achieves an incredible 90% specificity, 87% sensitivity, and 95% imageability. In only one minute, the diagnostic tool detects either the absence or presence of the eye condition that’s caused when high blood sugar destroys the blood vessels in the back of the eye. The artificial intelligence-based software has received FDA approval to be used in the US and is already in use in one big healthcare facility – University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.3. Apple: Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) Detection
Location: Cupertino, CA How Apple is using artificial intelligence in healthcare: The company’s AI sensor built into their flagship wearable, Apple Watch Series, leverages the power of artificial intelligence to detect atrial fibrillation, a cardiovascular condition that’s characterized by irregular heartbeats. Apple’s ECG app enables users to take an electrocardiogram, detecting any skipped, rapid or errant heartbeats. By monitoring your heartbeat in the background, the app can notify you if the abnormal heartbeat rhythms seem to be a sign of Afib, allowing you to seek medical attention early. Apple’s Afib detection AI-driven app is quite useful because the condition usually goes unnoticed, especially in the younger population. The Center for Disease Control estimates atrial fibrillation can affect close to 2 percent of this group, and up 9 percent of Americans older than 65. If it goes untreated, Afib can eventually lead to a stroke or heart attack. Currently, this FDA-approved software is geared towards users aged 55 and under, becoming one of the best and the most accessible FDA-approved personal ECG takers on the market.4. Aidoc: CT Brain Bleed Diagnosis
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel5. iCADL Breast Density Assessment via Mammography
Location: Nashua, NH6. QuantX: Detection of Breast Lesions
Location: Chicago, IL How QuantX is using artificial intelligence in healthcare: QuantX is a diagnostic platform that’s powered by machine learning, helping skilled physicians in characterization and detection of breast lesions. By combining case mining and AI, this tool helps radiologists and doctors better diagnose breast abnormalities and prescribe personalized treatments. QuantX’s AI is helping to address the diagnostic needs of healthcare administrators, physicians, and patients alike. It has already been given the green light by the FDA for use in US hospitals.7. Imagen (OsteoDetect): Probe Wrist Fractures in Adult Patients
Location: New York, NY8. Mayo Clinic: AI Cervical Cancer Screenings at the Mayo Clinic
Location: Jacksonville, Florida How Mayo Clinic is using artificial intelligence in healthcare: Mayo Clinic is leveraging an AI computer algorithm developed by researchers at Global Good and the National Institutes of Health to recommend additional cervical cancer exams. The computer-aided diagnostic solution combs through more than thousands cervical images to detect if a case needs further medical attention. This FDA-approved solution is long overdue given that the number of women screened for cervical cancer can be much lower than reported. Researchers found that the AI-platform delivers 91% accurate detection of precarious cancer changes compared to 69% and 71% by physicians and traditional cytology respectively.9. Moorfields Eye Hospital: Early Detection of Signs of Eye Disease
Location: London, England How Moorfields Eye Hospital is using artificial intelligence in healthcare: Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, in conjunction with Google DeepMind Health, is using AI to offer faster and more accurate early diagnosis of eye disease and therefore prevent total loss of sight. Using patient data from close to 15000 individuals, the London-based hospital has trained the AI algorithm to identify signs of eye disease from OCT, an imaging method that employs light waves to render three-dimensional images of the retina. Although DeepMind’s AI platform is still seeking regulatory green-light in the UK, when it does, Moorfields will spread its use for free for the first 5 years across its network of thirty hospitals in England.10. Zebra Medical Vision: AI-Powered Coronary Calcium Scoring
Location: Shefayim, Israel11. Bay Labs: Echocardiogram EF Determination
Location: San Francisco, California How Bay Labs is using artificial intelligence in healthcare: Based in San Francisco, Bay Labs is a medical tech firm that’s at the forefront of the application of AI in healthcare. The newly FDA-approved AI product by Bay Labs, EchoMed AutoEF, help cardiologists automatically determine left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) more accurately. As such, the diagnostic software helps doctors and cardiologists interpret echocardiograms and calculate EF with greater precision and efficiency. An HIPAA-compliant tech company, Bay Labs partners with several academic and clinical institutions to deliver better patient and research outcomes. They are currently working with Duke University School of Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, Minneapolis Heart Institute, Allina Health, and New York Presbyterian Hospital.12. Neural Analytics: Device for Paramedic Stroke Diagnosis
Location: Los Angeles, CA How Neural Analytics is using artificial intelligence in healthcare: the primary aim of Neural Analytics is to help paramedics detect early signs of acute ischemic stroke (AIC). According to the data presented by the medical tech company in Boston, its TCD platform and device can leverage AI to deliver stroke diagnosis at up to 94 percent accuracy. Soon, these devices will appear in EMT vehicles, allowing paramedics to stabilize and prep the patients accordingly long before they arrive at emergency rooms. Neural Analytics’s Transcranial Doppler device that’s powered by AI is designed to empower clinicians and first responders to diagnose cardiovascular diseases with greater accuracy and speed. The company received FDA approval in May 2018 for its TCD platform.13. Icometrix: MRI Brain Interpretation
Location: Chicago, IL14. Viz.ai: CT Stroke Diagnosis
Location: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, and San Francisco, CA How Viz.ai is leveraging artificial intelligence in healthcare: Viz.ai is using AI and deep learning to help doctors and cardiologists diagnose stroke faster and more accurately. Its artificial intelligence product, Viz LVO, has been praised for its capability to reduce door-to-groin time. With continued application, the new innovation will reduce time to treatment and greatly increase the number of stroke patients that receive intervention in time. This is an HIPAA-approved device with a mobile interface that allows for diagnosis on the move, making it easy for paramedics and doctors to take a handle on stroke cases. Viz LVO received FDA clearance in February 2018 for AI CT stroke diagnosis. It enables doctors to recommend more advanced treatment options like thrombectomy and refer escalated cases to specialized stroke centers like the Southeast Regional Stroke Center at Erlanger, Tennessee.15. AliveCor: Atrial Fibrillation Detection via Apple Watch
Location: San Francisco, CA16. Tempus: Comprehensive Cardiac Disease Care
Location: Chicago, IL How Tempus uses AI in healthcare: Tempus is leveraging machine learning, big data, and deep learning to identify undiagnosed or undertreated cardiovascular disease. Tempus Next is an artificial intelligence software that screens routinely generated data for opportunities for proactive care and disease management. It uses multimodal data and AI-based algorithms to provide insights for care teams to evaluate and take meaningful action.Medical knowledge management examples of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare
1. Johnson & Johnson Institute: AI-Powered VR Module for Training Doctors
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio How Johnson & Johnson is leveraging AI to help doctors: Johnson & Johnson Institute has developed a virtual reality platform that is powered by artificial intelligence. The J&J VR module is designed especially to train orthopedic nurses, surgeons, doctors, and even medical students how to conduct an array of surgical procedures. The deep learning tools embedded into the platform immerses clinicians, allowing them to learn and experience real-world case scenarios without having to be in physical training room. Needless to say, the platform helps doctors stay on top of their medical knowledge management without much hassle. On the patient side, the biggest use cases are health chatbots and self-assist apps. Take a look at 9 examples of how healthcare bots and self-assist mobile apps are transforming the lives of patients across the globe.2. Babylon Health: Medical Advice Dispensing Chatbots
Babylon Health is a state of the art telemedicine app, medical subscription service, and healthbot, all rolled into one. Established back in 2013, the platform now uses AI to deliver medical consultations to patients based on common medical knowledge and their own health history. Of course, Babylon Health also offers live video consultation with a live doctor if the patient requests one. The NHS in the UK has been testing Babylon Health since 2017. During the trial period, NHS used the AI-powered chatbots to help give medical consultation to patients on their network. More specifically, the chatbots carefully diagnosed the patients, and either give them a medical prescription or refer them to a specialist.3. SkinVision AI-Powered App That Enables One to Self-Check for Skin Cancer
Given that 20 percent of Americans get skin cancer, self-check mobile apps can come in especially handy. That’s exactly what SkinVision does. It’s an AI-powered iOS and Android app that allows users to perform routine self-checks for skin cancer using their smartphones.4. GYANT: Facebook Messenger/Alexa Chatbot for Medical Referrals
GYANT is smart telemedicine chatbot that collects symptoms from the patient and relays the information to clinicians who can offer diagnosis and prescribe treatments. They refer the patients to proper medical attention in real time through Alexa and Facebook Messenger. It’s currently geared towards English speaking patients, but it can communicate with Spanish, German, and Portuguese speakers.5. Buoy Health: Health Diagnostic Chatbot
6. Izzy: Menstrual and Sexual Health Chatbot
Izzy is a Facebook Messenger chatbot that allows women to stay on top of their menstrual cycle dates, sexual issues, and period problems like pain. It collects menstrual cycle data from the user, uses artificial intelligence and big data, and eventually helps users learn more about their sexual and menstrual health issues.7. Safedrugbot: Health Chat Messaging Service for Getting Drug Information Related to Breastfeeding
Safedrugbot is a robust healthbot service that provides assistant-esque support to doctors, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers who are looking for proper data about the use of medication during breastfeeding. Furthermore, the AI-powered chat messaging services offers healthcare professionals info about active agents/compounds in drugs and other alternative medications during breastfeeding.8. Your.MD: AI Health Information Platform
Your.MD is what it sounds like – it’s a free digital health platform that uses AI and Big Data analytics to offer actionable medical advice to patients based on incredibly accurate healthcare sources. It’s available as an Android and iOS app, as well as a chatbot for Telegram, KIK, Slack and Facebook Messenger. It’s an award-winning AI medical chatbot service that covers it all, from recommending mental health resources to finding you the closest doctor’s office.9. Sensely: Self-Care Chatbot Service
At the heart of Sensely chatbot service is a female medical assistant called Molly. She can examine your symptoms through images, video, text or speech, and recommend a diagnosis based on the patient’s gathered data and information already embedded in the algorithm. Eventually, Sensely’s Molly uses triage’s standard colors to decide whether patient’s medical case is an emergency or not.10. Cancer Chatbot: Facebook Messenger Chatbot for Seeking Cancer Information
As you might have already suspected, this is health chatbot that delivers cancer-related information and resources on Facebook Messenger. It provides family, friends, caregivers, and cancer patients with things like chemo tricks and tips as well as free resources.11. San: The Artificial Intelligence Nurse Chatbot
San, the proprietary AI-driven chatbot from Helpsy is one of a kind. San is a virtual assistant for cancer patients. It can be deployed directly in an interconnected fashion to connect all the people with a vested interest in the quality of life of a specific patient: hospitals, doctors, nurses, the patient and the patient’s immediate family. Once a diagnosis is entered into the system, the San chatbot can help patients navigate the complex web of requirements, treatment options, routines, patient adherence medical protocols and other aspects of cancer treatment.Summary
- Data Security Breaches and Privacy Issues
- Out-of-the-box Solutions Problem
- Startup and Initial Stakeholder Issues
- Compliance and Regulation hurdles
Do you need guidance with your digital transformation initiatives? Digital Authority Partners has worked with companies like Athenahealth, Omron Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield on cutting-edge digital initiatives that improve patient outcomes and quality of care. Contact Digital Authority Partners at hello@digitalauthority.me or 312-820-9893.You may also be interested in reading our in-depth Healthcare industry reports:
- Blockchain in Healthcare: An Executive’s Guide
- Artificial Intelligence & the Pharma Industry: What’s Next
- Big Data in Healthcare: All You Need to Know
- 5 Tips for Healthcare Website Design Initiatives in 2024
- The State of Digital Transformation in Healthcare in 2024
- 9 Cardiovascular Health Technologies Doctors Should Know
- Alexa in Healthcare: 17 Real Use Cases You Should Know About
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