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How is artificial intelligence used in healthcare? The recent development of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms like ChatGPT will leave a mark in every field that relies on technology and medicine is no exception.
Today, AI is already being used in a wide range of medical settings to improve patient care and provide more information to doctors as well as other specialists.
But, how exactly is AI used right now in medicine? What impact has this technology had on medicine? And, are there future applications that haven’t been explored?
Below, we’ll go over the role that AI plays in modern medicine and discuss the potential it has to revolutionize the industry.
The Use of AI in Modern Medicine
Knowing how AI is used in healthcare today can help explain many of the recent advancements in modern medicine. The best part is that AI is not limited to one medical specialty or area, but this technology can be applied across several fields like cardiology, neurology, diagnostics, and many more.
For the sake of this discussion, we’re separating imaging and diagnostic applications. AI has resulted in improvements in both areas, but it’s important to analyze them individually to understand the dynamic nature of AI.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the existing applications, discuss their impact, and project how these will be enhanced with future advancements.
1. Imaging Applications
If you’re wondering how is AI being used in healthcare, applications in imaging are a good introduction.
In this context, imaging consists of the generation of medical images that let doctors and other medical experts analyze the symptoms, characteristics, and other signs of medical conditions.
Moreover, imaging in the medical research setting may also refer to enhanced pictures of microscopic organisms, mutations, and other types of images.
But, how does AI enhance this field? Artificial intelligence can help improve image quality and reduce the amount of energy as well as radiation required to produce some of these images while improving the quality of the output.
Image Analysis and Interpretation
Another contribution of AI technology in the medical field is that it can help humans interpret medical images.
While it’s true that medical images contain a trove of information about patients’ health, the way humans take in and process information can sometimes affect how diagnostic experts interpret an image.
Not only this, tiredness, urgency, stress levels, and other human-related variables can cause specialists to overlook small signs that can lead to a more accurate diagnosis.
Fortunately, there are now several AI models that understand the distinct elements within a medical image and consistently point out potential areas that need further analysis.
2. Diagnostics
The use of AI in the medical field is revolutionizing several aspects of the industry, including diagnostics.
Prediction and Early Diagnostic
Diagnostic experts are now using AI to analyze huge data sets that include genomic, clinical, and imaging data, which helps them predict the risk of diseases more accurately. Not only can this occur at a societal level, but it can also be used in individual medicine to identify patients that may require additional care. Some of the issues that AI can help predict include:
- Heart conditions
- Strokes
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s
Additionally, it’s important to note that AI can be used to identify rare diseases across large patient populations because it can point out genetic markers and help diagnose rare autoimmune conditions.
One of the most beneficial ways that AI can be used in healthcare is in the clinical decision-making process. Besides helping diagnose a condition more accurately, AI can also help identify the best treatment based on the existing patient data.
3. Radiation Therapy
When most people think about AI in the medical industry they don’t immediately imagine radiation therapy and similar treatments. But, once you start analyzing how AI can contribute to the medical field, it’s easy to see the many applications it can have.
For starters, AI technology can help target tumors more accurately and hence spare more healthy tissue. Additionally, AI can also help personalize radiation protocols and automatically create outlines for malignant tumors as well as vital organs in the image diagnostic stage.
Besides interpreting images, AI can also improve diagnostic data. AI is used in PET and SPECT scans to reduce noise and produce clearer images that allow for more accurate diagnostics.
Radiation Dose Management and Safety
Last but not least, AI has the potential to track practitioner doses and help improve radiation security across your entire facility. AI can also help your medical experts set the right parameters in order to reduce exposure as much as possible while also helping them monitor cumulative radiation levels in both patients and medical staff members.
4. Additional Applications
Are you wondering if/how is AI used in healthcare today beyond the topics we’ve covered? The truth is that there are endless applications to AI in medicine, so listing all of them would be extremely difficult.
Let’s take a look at additional applications of AI in the medical field.
- Drug Research: Compile information and help medical experts reach more comprehensive conclusions during the research and testing phases.
- Virtual Health Consultations: Screen patients and redirect them to the best therapist.
- Surgical Robotics: Precise surgical operations in both conventional and microscopic settings.
- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation: Creation of personalized protocols that result in better short and long-term recovery.
Implementing AI and Safety Protocols as a Priority
Whether you manage a single diagnostic facility or a portfolio of medical centers, implementing and improving the application of AI into your operation is likely one of your biggest priorities.
AI is already being used in a wide range of applications in modern medicine and diagnostic science, and the potential for further applications is limitless.
From image development and analysis to the enhancement of diagnostic research, radiation control, and other applications like surgical robotics, AI has already improved several areas of modern science. And, the true potential of AI is just being explored, so the biggest advancements are still on the horizon.
Contact us today to learn more about how our innovative solutions may help you increase your radiation protection products‘ safety and operational effectiveness.
