The healthcare scene, along with many other major industries, is being transformed by artificial intelligence, so much so that AI is actually redefining the entire medical field and all its functions. Across multiple industries, AI is getting highly sophisticated and accurate at doing what humans do, and it’s easily becoming a game-changer when it comes to doing things more efficiently and at a lower cost.
The potential of artificial intelligence in the healthcare ecosystem is boundless. From playing a huge role in data collection and improved analytics to accurate diagnosis and treatment for diseases, AI offers numerous advantages over traditional medical techniques. AI and big data analytics have revolutionized epistemology by shifting from theories to a more empirical approach.
Artificial intelligence also changed the process of research by which new knowledge is being discovered from big data analytics, including information that was not even intended to be uncovered. There are endless opportunities in which medical professionals can take advantage of artificial intelligence to create more precise, efficient, and impactful interventions for patients.
Leveraging AI allows healthcare practitioners to gain remarkable insights into diagnostics, care processes, treatment options, as well as patient outcomes. Artificial intelligence is poised to drive improvements across the entire healthcare industry, as demand keeps increasing at a staggering rate.
When It Comes to AI, the Numbers Don’t Lie
According to a recent report by Frost & Sullivan, the healthcare AI market is likely to experience an annual growth rate of 40% through 2021, not to mention it has the potential to change outcomes and cut treatment costs in half.
It’s safe to say that AI has the potential to heavily transform how healthcare services will be delivered. A joint study published by EIT Health and McKinsey & Company explores how AI can effectively elevate the patient experience as well as care outcomes with enhanced healthcare services.
The healthcare system is always in need of a larger workforce, and when faced with critical situations such as a global pandemic, it’s also imperative to have state-of-the-art technology on your side, and that includes artificial intelligence.
In what follows, we’ll explore the top 5 ways that AI is currently impacting the medical field.
The Top Benefits of AI in the Medical Field
1. Staying Healthy
Arguably the biggest benefit of AI in the medical field is that it helps us stay healthy without necessarily needing a doctor—at least not as often. A variety of health-oriented mobile apps already encourage us to lead a more healthy and proactive life by providing us with stats and recommendations. This puts us in control of our well-being. Plus, this data informs healthcare professionals, which in turn helps them provide better support, guidance, and feedback for patients.
2. Early Disease Detection
Artificial intelligence is also used to detect diseases more accurately and in their early stages. With the help of AI, wearables, and other medical devices, diseases such as cancer can be detected early on. AI gives doctors a huge advantage in potentially detecting life-threatening diseases at treatable stages and allows caregivers to monitor their patients effectively.
3. Fast & Accurate Diagnosis
A handful of systems are already in place to help facilitate faster diagnoses. IBM’s Watson for Health, for example, is helping healthcare organizations diagnose different symptoms, diseases, and conditions within minutes, by cross-referencing millions of records. Google’s DeepMind Health, which combines machine learning and systems neuroscience to build powerful general-purpose learning algorithms into neural networks that mimic the human brain, is also being used by physicians.
4. Decision-Making & Treatment
With the help of big health data and spot-on analytics, clinicians and medical professionals can make better decisions when it comes to treating their patients. By examining patterns and risks of developing a condition with the help of AI, doctors can take a more comprehensive approach to treatment options. Plus, AI robots can help with repetitive tasks, rehabilitation, and physical therapy, supporting those with long-term conditions, and even surgery.
5. End-of-Life Care
As we approach the end of life, we need all the help and care we can get. AI technology can help ease conditions of many diseases, like dementia for example, and ensure we remain independent for longer, reducing the need for hospitalization and care homes. AI also helps ease loneliness for seniors by providing social interactions in different forms.
Conclusion
If you’re creative and brave enough, you can leverage the power of AI in many different situations. From advanced research to training staff and decreasing costs, the possibilities are limitless. Additionally, AI technology and robots reduce errors related to human fatigue, while therapeutic robots can pave new ways when it comes to interactions.
Investing in automation and artificial intelligence has the potential to completely revolutionize the healthcare industry and help address many challenges. It can lead to better care outcomes while also improving productivity and efficiency. There are countless positive reasons why AI technology is a future-ready investment, the only negative one being centered around ethical debates about how it should be used.
