In the ever-evolving landscape of the global economy, the healthcare sector has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments in the past decade. As the world grapples with the increasing challenges posed by pandemics like the recent coronavirus outbreak, the healthcare industry is once again poised for significant growth. As the demand for innovative healthcare solutions increases, organizations are turning to cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data to deal with the needs.
The potential of AI in healthcare is nothing short of revolutionary. According to Acumen Research and Consulting, the global AI in the healthcare market is projected to reach a staggering 48 billion by 2026. This projection indicates that AI and big data skills could prove transformative in solving real-world challenges. Let us take a look at the ways AI has helped practitioners as well as patients.
1. AI’s Profound Impact on Healthcare: Predicting Heart Attacks
AI can play a pivotal role in predicting life-threatening events like heart attacks. A medical test called coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) captures 3D images of the heart and arteries but takes almost 25-30 minutes per case.
Researchers at Cedars Sinai Medical Center have developed an AI algorithm by training a computer with 900 coronary CTA images and it could give results in mere seconds. The AI algorithm’s predictions even accurately anticipated the likelihood of heart attacks within five years for participants in a related research trial.
2. Real-time Healthcare Insights: Data Analytics at Work
In healthcare, data analytics can help in driving real-time alerts. Clinical Decision Support (CDS) software aids doctors instantly by analyzing medical data on the spot. Wearables collect patient data and send this data to the cloud. Rapid alerts, like spiking blood pressure, can prompt swift action. Asthmapolis has started using inhalers with GPS trackers for trend analysis. They can use this data along with the data from CDSs to make better treatment plans for asthmatics.
3. Electronic Health Records (EHRS)
EHRS leverages big data to digitize medical records, simplifying access and updates for healthcare providers. Every patient has a separate digital record, which includes demographics, medical history, allergies, laboratory test results, etc. and this data is available to the doctors. This is called data gathering. They also offer real-time alerts for crucial tests and prescription adherence, thus, enhancing patient care.
4. AI’s Reach: Predictive Healthcare and Early Interventions
The applications of AI in predictive healthcare extend far beyond heart attacks. Researchers are exploring AI’s potential to predict a range of diseases and illnesses:
- Detecting early signs of breast cancer through hidden insights within mammograms
- Predicting dementia onset within two years for patients in memory care clinics
- Identifying latent correlations that signal diabetes in extensive patient datasets
- Forecasting acute kidney injury up to 48 hours before it occurs
Moreover, AI has become an invaluable tool in emergency rooms and intensive care units. By harnessing the vast reservoirs of electronic medical records, AI algorithms can identify patterns in patient status or the risk of serious complications.
5. A Multifaceted Approach to Better Healthcare
AI’s role in healthcare extends beyond predictive analytics. The technology can help in in-patient mobility monitoring, enhancing the capabilities of ICU staff to track patients’ movements and intervene when necessary. AI-powered robotics, are finding applications in hospitals as well, collaborating with human counterparts and even assisting in surgeries.
Furthermore, AI is revolutionizing drug development by streamlining clinical trials, a notoriously lengthy and expensive process.
6. Using the Power of Big Data for Fighting Against Cancer
Notably, big data’s impact isn’t confined to the realms of prediction; it’s also proving instrumental in the fight against cancer. Genome sequencing and data analysis are enabling earlier cancer diagnosis and the discovery of targeted treatments
Conclusion
As the new trends in technological innovation continue to reshape the healthcare landscape, AI and big data are capable of guiding the sector towards enhanced outcomes. The transformation is underway, ushering in a new era where healthcare and technology will go hand-in-hand and promise a healthier and more resilient world.
