Artificial intelligence has proven to be a game-changing technology for several industries, including health care. Simple, menial tasks that once cost medical professionals valuable time can now be automated, allowing them to significantly streamline their day-to-day operations and increase productivity. AI technology’s advanced data analytics capabilities also enable workers to reach heights of efficiency they may have never thought possible.
Another benefit of increased artificial intelligence adoption that is often overlooked is its power to democratize access. In the health care industry, AI-powered tools could help make medical care and knowledge more accessible to those who need it most, including uninsured or underinsured patients.
However, perhaps the greatest potential of artificial intelligence in health care is its capability to democratize access to essential health care services. Although the care may not be an exact substitute for the care of a human medical practitioner, it would still arguably be better than not seeking out care at all.
Use Cases of AI Technology in Health Care
One of the main ways medical practitioners have leveraged AI technology is by utilizing its advanced analytics capabilities to improve diagnostics. Since AI can analyze vast amounts of data almost instantaneously, including scans and patient records, it can quickly identify patterns that lead to earlier, more accurate diagnoses. In health care specialties or medical niches that experience a significant staffing shortage, this could go a long way in bridging the gap between physician availability and the need for care.
Artificial intelligence technology can also be leveraged to help medical practitioners provide more personalized care to their patients by analyzing this medical data. By analyzing each patient’s unique medical history and genetic data, an AI model can suggest personalized treatment plans and predict potential health risks with incredible accuracy.
Some have even suggested that AI could improve remote healthcare delivery. For example, AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots could provide basic services like consultations, answering common questions, and triage. Although human doctors or practitioners will still be required for patient treatment, the earlier, more monotonous tasks can be automated to allow valuable medical personnel to spend their time on more pressing matters.
Finally, AI can potentially revolutionize the health care sector in the developmental stages. In drug discovery and development, AI models can be used to analyze molecular structures and predict potential drug-patient interactions, which would accelerate drug discovery and potentially lead to the more rapid development of treatments for various diseases.
Responsibly Implementing AI Technology in Health Care Settings
Of course, those in the medical industry must consider particular concerns when implementing AI into their operations, not the least of which is data privacy. Because patient data is highly sensitive and confidential, patients and health care providers alike must be completely informed about the privacy policies and terms of use of any AI platforms being used regarding their medical data.
Furthermore, medical providers must remain aware of any bias that the AI platforms they utilize may unintentionally exhibit. An AI model’s output is dependent on the data with which it is trained, so if said data has any biases or limitations, those will be reflected in its output. For example, if a model used to conduct medical diagnoses is trained on data from patients of a particular demographic, its diagnoses for other demographics may be skewed or inaccurate. It is up to practitioners to ensure that potential biases do not interfere with their responsibility to provide quality care.
Like in many other industries, artificial intelligence has shown the potential to be a revolutionary force in health care. From improving diagnostics to democratizing access and enhancing the discovery of new drugs, AI technology can be leveraged in various ways to improve health care delivery for both patients and providers. Now is the time for the health care sector to embrace the AI paradigm and work to make health care more accessible and effective to all.
