AI can be a force for good in healthcare

In this blog, Jeanne Greathouse, Healthcare Director, shares seven opportunities for AI to support the healthcare system benefitting patients and society. 

According to BSI’s Trust in AI Poll[1], 56% of people around the world support the use of AI tools to diagnose or treat them or a loved one if it could improve their condition or speed up recovery. Addressing backlogs, alleviating workforce pressures and finding new ways to address complex illnesses could bring enormous benefits, helping people live healthier lives everywhere.

Here are seven opportunity areas.

1. Prediction and prevention

One in two people are excited about the potential for AI to improve the accuracy of a diagnosis or speed up recovery. They are right to be optimistic. We are already seeing evidence that AI can predict and diagnose diseases faster than medical professionals. One study found an AI model using algorithms and deep learning had a better accuracy rate than 11 pathologists at detecting breast cancer.

52% of people are excited about the potential for AI to improve the accuracy of a diagnosis or speed up recovery times.

2. Efficient medicine development 

AI is already starting to revolutionize medical research and drug development, with the potential to reduce research costs and avoid human errors. AI could, for example, detect cell changes that humans can't see under a microscope, or aid in understanding complex relationships between compounds, proteins, genes and diseases. This could also potentially get drugs to market quicker - something given global prominence during the pandemic when Pfizer utilized AI to speed up clinical trials of the vaccine.

3. Improving the experience for patients and professionals

52% of people believe the use of AI can help to meet staffing needs across the healthcare sector

Over half of those surveyed said they support the use of AI tools to help them manage their care remotely. Already, patients can avoid long waiting times by making appointments and checking in through an app or website. By automating appointments and reducing complex paperwork, AI-driven solutions could help to improve communication and save time. For example, 3.1 million US patients in the US have chatted to a doctor or nurse via the K Health platform. With real-time health monitoring, patients have the ability to check on their condition through an app. These have functionalities that can, for example, alert a doctor of any sudden changes in a patient’s vital signs.

4. Working alongside doctors

57% of people support AI tools being used to treat them as long as they are overseen or managed by a qualified person.

Nearly three fifths of people (57%) support AI tools being used to treat them if they are overseen by a qualified person. AI can support doctors in decision-making by analyzing patient data, helping to speed up and improve the diagnostic process. This has the potential to improve safety by identifying risks early on so that the trajectory of the outcome can be changed for the better. By combining AI-enabled decisions with expert judgment and the human touch, patients can have peace of mind.

5. Accelerating medical innovation

Looking to 2050, 28% of people surveyed by BSI said a specific priority was for AI to make it easier for doctors to diagnose conditions. Already, AI is supporting the development of new tools in clinical trials. From 3D-printed artificial limbs to surgical robots. The sector has already seen dozens of innovations thanks to the help of AI. One of the largest applications has been in medical imaging, with AI innovation in areas including lung nodule detection on CT scans and breast imaging.

6. Personalized medical approaches

For stretched doctors and nurses, individualized care may not always be possible. Research suggests AI could help, for example by predicting a patient's response to a medicine. Using AI in personalized medicine could allow for more effective treatments of different conditions. For example, in Europe, a project is underway to apply existing genomic and clinical data to improve personalized medicine of pancreatic cancer.

7. Relieving pressure

56% of people believe the use of AI can ease pressure on the healthcare services, including reducing waiting times.

AI can’t solve every issue, but 77% of healthcare workers said that with training, they would trust AI to do some or all of their jobs – freeing them up to deliver patient care. In fact, within the sector, there is high enthusiasm - 57% of healthcare professionals believe AI could help to meet staffing needs.

Looking to the future

Underpinning all this is trust. 55% said they support the use of AI tools provided there are strict safeguards to ensure ethical use of patient data, and 69% believe patients must be made aware when AI tools are being used. To realize the benefits presented by AI in healthcare, there is work to be done to build confidence amongst patients and clinicians.

We are starting to see instances of AI improving outcomes in healthcare globally. Combining the expertise of researchers and doctors and the data analysis skills of AI could pave the way for even more medical advancements.

 

This content is from BSI’s Shaping Society 5.0 campaign. Download Jeanne’s full essay or access others in the collection here.   

 

Jeanne Greathouse, Healthcare Director, BSI

Jeanne Greathouse, Healthcare Director, BSI

Paving the way for healthy futures through scaling digital trust solutions across the globe, Jeanne is passionate to work with key clients and industry partners to develop holistic solutions, strategies, and programs in digital health. She has worked with the MedTech and Life Sciences industry for over 15 years to accelerate client and healthcare ecosystem innovation, with the goal of improving patients’ and consumers’ quality of life.

 

 

[1] BSI partnered with Censuswide to survey 10,144 adults across nine markets (Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, UK, and US) between 23rd and 29th August 2023