5 Ways AI Is Used In Healthcare

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence programmed into machines to allow them to give different responses and make decisions. This technology has been around since the mid-20th century and is finding footing in the automotive, commerce and transportation industries.

Another industry benefiting from AI is the healthcare industry, with advancements accelerating during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals are utilizing this intelligence to cover administrative tasks, monitor patients and even assist doctors in diagnosis and surgery.

Here are five ways the healthcare industry is using artificial intelligence.

1. Predicting The Track Of Illness

Healthcare providers are looking to artificial intelligence to help predict a patient’s risk for disease and how severe the symptoms could be.

When COVID filled ICU beds across the country in 2020, hospitals used AI to evaluate patient records and predict which patients would progress to a critical condition. Doctors use this same AI technology to predict other hard-to-diagnose diseases, helping them prescribe the prevention and treatment essential in life-threatening cases.

2. Managing Hospital Resources

Big Tech provides administrative solutions to healthcare providers by automating tasks. Doing so helps doctors focus on patient care. AI is being used to mitigate the industry’s $4.6 billion cost of physician burnout every year by taking on some of the administrative tasks overworked physicians face daily.

Though some healthcare facilities are finding it difficult to afford the implementation of AI, tech companies say they are working to make the software more available. This will help more hospital workers to focus on the high-skill tasks involved with assisting patients.

3. Assisting Robotic Surgery

Minimally-invasive robotic surgery has shortened patients’ hospital stays by 21%. Artificial intelligence is enabling robots to use their past data and experience to develop new and improved surgical techniques.

They can also use AI to guide a surgeon’s instruments during operations to make more precise movements.

Artificial intelligence could help determine risks as well. Studies are looking at how AI could predict complications following surgery, helping determine recovery plans and treatment.

4. Analyzing Images

Image analysis can be incredibly time-consuming for healthcare providers. However, artificial intelligence can analyze three-dimensional images at a rate 1,000 times faster than humans.

The new AI technology can provide analysis in practically real-time and help surgeons make crucial decisions in the operating room. This will be important when an unforeseen problem occurs and needs attention quickly.

Healthcare professionals also hope this technology will reduce the need to gather tissue samples and make remote care more accurate. For example, the Netherlands is using this technology to suture blood vessels precisely in patients suffering from Lymphedema.

5. Monitoring Patients

Many hospitals have hired “watchers” to ensure patients at risk of injury don’t harm themselves. Others have used weight-detection sensors to see when a patient is moving in a way they shouldn’t be without assistance, but there is typically a delay between when the sensor goes off and when help arrives.

Other AI technologies can analyze a patient’s balance and predict their risk of falling in the next year. This technology could be crucial to preventing serious injury and death of the elderly population.

Using AI In The Future Of Healthcare

In healthcare, artificial intelligence is taking burdens off of physicians and providing analysis quickly to improve patient outcomes.

Artificial intelligence could help shape the future of healthcare, thanks to its rapid response and accurate diagnosis. However, it takes the time and effort of brilliant human minds to push that advancement forward and provide the benefits of connection between doctors, nurses and patients.

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