3.
AI has already begun to revolutionize various industries, but its impact
on healthcare is particularly profound. Why? Healthcare is not just about
technology; it’s about people’s lives. And AI has the potential to make
those lives longer, healthier, and better cared for
Let me start with a big number: $194.4 billion. That’s how much the
global AI healthcare market is expected to be worth by 2030. To give you
an idea of how fast it’s growing, it’s increasing by over 38% every year. In
simple terms, what we’re seeing today is just the beginning of what AI can
do for healthcare.
4. Alright, but what does it mean in real terms?
In general, AI can be used in 3 main areas.
The first is diagnostics.
AI is revolutionizing areas like radiology, where it can analyse medical
images—such as X-rays or MRIs—and detect diseases like cancer or heart
conditions. Amazingly, these AI algorithms are often as accurate as human
specialists, sometimes even better. It can save time for doctors.
Next, Treatment personalization.
AI is helping us move from one-size-fits-all treatments to highly
personalized care. For example, it can determine the best chemotherapy
dosage for a cancer patient or predict how someone will respond to a
specific medication.
The last one, is medical assistants and physician support
How can AI support doctors in their day-to-day work? AI-powered tools,
often called virtual medical assistants, handle routine tasks like updating
patient records, scheduling appointments, or reminding patients to take
their medications.
5. AI can predict breast cancer (as much as five years in the future) and
personalize care. The model learned the subtle patterns in breast tissue
that are precursors to malignant tumours.
AI can anticipate the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or
cardiovascular conditions.
AI algorithms, based on specific data such as gender, height, age or heart
rate, optimize scanning parameters by adapting the scan to the patient's
specific characteristics. We can train AI algorithms to analyze these
images and identify patterns and abnormalities that may not immediately
appear to a human observer. This can help improve the accuracy of
diagnoses and reduce the risk of errors. AI can make an initial assessment
of a given case while performing many activities simultaneously, which a
doctor cannot do.
Some methods using AI can reduce the time of brain scanning from 25 to
13 minutes.
A shorter examination time means greater patient comfort.
This will shorten the time of performing and describing the imaging test,
thus reducing the waiting time for a doctor's visit.
Moreover, it can reduce the Workload for Radiologists. AI can organize
medical images into groups like "normal" or "needs attention," so
radiologists can focus on the most important cases first. It can also handle
routine tasks, like measuring the size of a tumor or comparing scans from
different times. This saves specialists time, allowing them to focus on more
complicated cases.
6. AI uses personalized patient data to recommend the best treatments:
• For cancer patients, it studies genetic information to suggest the
most suitable chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
• For chronic conditions like diabetes, AI monitors glucose levels in
real time and adjusts treatment plans as needed.
During treatment, AI can track how well a patient is responding and
recommend changes to dosages or alternative therapies if necessary.
7. How AI helps create therapies tailored to individual patients
-AI analyzes the weight, height, symptoms or even DNA of the patient to
type some of the substances that could help.
And actually, it works. AI is being used in pharmacy while creating new
drugs. Classically, there are thousands of possibilities and we can't be sure
if something is useful until we will conduct a test. It requires time, a lot of
money, and pretty much Staff. Bringing a drug to market is a complex,
experimental process that typically takes 10 to 15 years and often involves
billions of dollars. The effectiveness is about 10%.
If we use AI, it will suggest a way lower number of molecules to carry on
research. AI allows faster preselection of substances. As a result, we will
need less time, and less money and the patients will get the drug faster.
Moreover, the drug can be way more personalized.
Example: Algorithms analyzing a patient's DNA to select the right
treatment.
Predicting treatment outcomes based on data.
As an example, I can mention the drug Remdesivir, which was initially
developed as a drug against the Ebola virus and later proved effective in
treating COVID-19. Another example is the drug Metformin, originally used
to treat type 2 diabetes, which has shown potential in the treatment of
cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
AI helps not only identify new drugs but also optimizes dosages and
combinations of existing therapies.
Thanks to this, patients have faster access to new drugs. Also they’re
more effective.
8. AI stands poised to become a valuable tool, freeing MAs from repetitive
tasks and allowing them to focus on what they do best: providing
compassionate and personalized patient care.
Administrative Assistance
AI systems can manage administrative tasks like scheduling appointments,
updating medical records, and handling patient data. This reduces the
workload on healthcare staff and allows them to focus more on patient
care. For example:
• Automated transcription of doctor-patient conversations directly
into electronic health records (EHR).
• Chatbots for answering patient queries, providing reminders, or
guiding them through pre-appointment preparations.
9. During COVID19, In Italy, in nothern Lombardy region, which was the
epicentre of the outbreak, some hospitals purchased some robots. The
child-size robots with large blinking eyes are wheeled into rooms and left
by a patient's bedside so doctors can look after others who are in more
serious conditions.
They monitor parameters from equipment in the room, relaying them to
hospital staff. The robots have touch-screen faces that allow patients to
record messages and send them to doctors.
10. Remote Monitoring and Virtual Care
AI-powered medical assistants facilitate telemedicine and remote
monitoring:
• Devices equipped with AI algorithms can monitor vital signs (e.g.,
blood pressure, glucose levels) and alert physicians to anomalies.
• They can show patients how to do exercises correctly during
recovery, remind patients to take their medication on time.
Continuous Learning and Up-To-Date Knowledge
AI systems can process and learn from the latest medical research at a
scale far beyond human capability:
• Tools like IBM Watson Health provide physicians with evidence-based
recommendations.
• AI ensures that doctors have access to the most current guidelines
and treatment options.
• IBM Watson Health is an AI-powered platform designed to help
healthcare professionals make better decisions by providing access
to the latest medical research, clinical guidelines, and patient data.
It continuously analyzes vast amounts of information, such as
medical journals, research papers, and clinical trial results, to offer
evidence-based recommendations. By doing so, it ensures doctors
and researchers stay up-to-date with new treatments and
discoveries, improving patient care and outcomes.
11. Improved Accuracy in Diagnostics
• AI algorithms can analyze medical data, such as imaging scans, with
exceptional precision.
Faster Data Analysis
• AI can process vast amounts of data in seconds, significantly
reducing the time needed for diagnoses and research.
Remote Monitoring and Telemedicine
• Remote monitoring improves access to care for people in rural or
underserved areas.
Cost Reduction
• AI helps reduce healthcare costs by improving resource allocation,
reducing diagnostic errors, and shortening hospital stays through
efficient treatment planning.
Drug Discovery and Development
• AI accelerates the identification of potential drug candidates by
analyzing molecular structures and predicting their effects.
• This reduces the time and cost of drug development significantly.
Support for Clinical Decision-Making
• AI systems provide evidence-based recommendations, helping
doctors make informed decisions.
• Example: IBM Watson assists oncologists by analyzing medical
literature and suggesting the most appropriate treatment options.
Increased Access to Healthcare
• AI enables remote diagnostics and treatments, making healthcare
accessible to populations in remote or underdeveloped regions.
• Example: AI-powered diagnostic tools on smartphones for
underserved areas.
12. Improved Patient Experience
• AI-driven virtual assistants and chatbots provide 24/7 support,
answer questions.
12. Data Privacy and Security
• AI relies on vast amounts of patient data, raising concerns about
data breaches and unauthorized access.
Accountability and Liability
• Who is responsible when AI makes a mistake? The developer, the
healthcare provider, or the institution?
Dependence on Technology
• Overreliance on AI could diminish critical thinking and decision-
making skills among healthcare professionals.
Ethical Concerns in Patient Consent
• Patients may not fully understand how their data is being used by AI
systems.
Job Displacement in Healthcare
• Automation of routine tasks could lead to job losses for
administrative and support staff.
Cost and Accessibility
• Developing and implementing AI systems can be expensive,
potentially widening the gap between resource-rich and resource-
poor healthcare systems.
