How AI Is Reshaping the World of Healthcare as You Know It

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Introduction
AI Transforming Healthcare Landscape
The Rise of AI in Mental Health
AI in Medical Imaging and Diagnostics
AI in Drug Discovery and Development
AI and Remote Monitoring and Wearables
Closing Thoughts on AI in Healthcare

How AI Is Reshaping the World of Healthcare as You Know It

Curated by

cdteliot

4 min read

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Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare, with applications ranging from diagnosis automation and personalized treatment plans to drug discovery and virtual health assistants. As reported by McKinsey, over 70 percent of surveyed healthcare organizations are already pursuing or implementing AI capabilities, signaling a transformative shift that promises to enhance patient care, streamline operations, and redefine the future of medicine.

AI Transforming Healthcare Landscape

mckinsey.com

At a time when technology is a part of every aspect of our lives, it's no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) is making massive strides in the world of healthcare

. From helping mental health patients to giving doctors and their staff tools to be more effective, to surgeons making lasting breakthroughs in their field, new technologies are changing the way medical care is approached on numerous levels

. With the global rise in physical and mental health issues, made worse by factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of modern life, there's an increasing need for affordable, effective, and immediate support around the world

. This is where AI-powered tools and mental health apps (like Woebot and Wysa) are coming into the picture. They are virtual companions designed to help users work through their physical and mental issues, while helping doctors better diagnose and treat conditions

. Let's take a look at how these AI-driven tools are remaking the world of health care and what it means for the future.

7 sources

The Rise of AI in Mental Health

FLUX

Mental health issues and challenges affect hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a top cause of disability around the world

. However, access to mental health care remains a huge challenge due to factors like scarcity of professionals, ballooning costs, and social stigma

. Thankfully, AI offers a solution by making support more accessible and cost-effective. AI chatbots are available 24/7, offering assistance when it's needed most, without the need for either insurance or in-person appointments

. These AI chatbots provide a new realm of health support—providing tools and treatment methods that were once only available via traditional therapy. By making use of AI, these apps help level the playing field for health care, removing barriers that are cost and availability-related. Plus, they help remove the stigma of getting help

. Two of the most used health apps are Woebot and Wysa. They both use AI to work with humans and foster conversations focused on improving their mental well-being, but they approach this goal in different ways. Woebot, developed by clinical research psychologists at Stanford University, utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This approach helps individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns

. CBT inspires and aids people via daily conversations, teaching them techniques to manage their symptoms of anxiety and depression. The chatbot uses natural language processing (NLP) to understand user needs in an empathetic and informative tone

. On the other hand, Wysa combines CBT with techniques from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and meditation. It also does things like mood tracking, and stress management techniques, and offers strategies to help them feel better over time

7 sources

AI in Medical Imaging and Diagnostics

AI has also significantly enhanced the accuracy and efficiency of important diagnostic technology like imaging. It is currently enabling healthcare professionals to detect diseases earlier and with greater accuracy. Now, they can help in analyzing huge datasets of medical images and identifying things that have often been missed by human eyes. Some of the leading tools include: Zebra Medical Vision: This platform leverages AI algorithms to review and analyze medical imaging data, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs that are used in treating cancer, heart disease, fractures, and so much more. Zebra's tools help radiologists focus and act quickly on critical cases, which leads to better patient outcomes.

Aidoc: This tool focuses on improving the workflow of radiologists. It analyzes medical images in real time, which helps them detect and highlight issues that need immediate care, such as strokes, embolisms, brain hemorrhages, and lots more. The ability to act faster and with more precision is already saving numerous lives.

PathAI: This tool helps pathologists be more efficient by leveraging machine learning algorithms to assist in the diagnosis of diseases. This is especially important in the treatment of cancer. By efficiently analyzing tissue samples, PathAI helps them make highly accurate diagnoses and greatly reduces the risk of human error.

6 sources

AI in Drug Discovery and Development

History has proven that the traditional drug discovery process can take years and comes with massive costs. Thus, AI has introduced new ways to accelerate the development of medications by looking closely at biological data. In doing this, it is possible to predict molecular behaviors and identify potential drug candidates faster and more efficiently

. Tools like Atomwise use deep learning to predict how molecules will behave under the influence of specific drugs. This helps identify new drug candidates faster and with more precision. Now, drugs can be brought to market with more precision and numerous possibilities open up for treatment

. Likewise, Insilico Medicine is leveraging AI for drug discovery and repurposing. It uses machine learning to predict the effectiveness of drug compounds. It also suggests novel compounds that can be developed to useful drugs and assesses drug toxicity, leading to reduced time to market

5 sources

AI and Remote Monitoring and Wearables

engadget.com

With the birth of Apple's iWatch and other similar devices, it isn't a surprise that the technology is now helping healthcare providers monitor patients' health remotely and in real-time. They can do things like monitor vital signs such as heart rate, sleep patterns, physical activity, and more. AI-driven algorithms then analyze and look deeply at this data to provide details into a person's health and allow for early detection of everything from heart problems to sleep related conditions. Another technology that is taking the healthcare system by storm is Biofourmis, an AI-powered remote monitoring platform that uses wearable sensors and AI to monitor patients, especially those with chronic issues like heart failure. It tracks physiological data and can even predict when a patient's condition may go down hill to reduce the numbers of hospitalizations they experience.

Closing Thoughts on AI in Healthcare

AI is without a doubt forever changing healthcare as we know it. It is doing everything from providing tools for diagnostics, accelerating drug discovery, helping support those with mental health challenges, and so much more.

In the coming months and years, we can expect a host of new AI tools, from robots in surgery and as aids ti nurses, to more tools that will help make real-time diagnostics easier and more effective.

While mental health applications have received most of the attention so far, we can all be certain that AI is going so much deeper and will help keep us all healthier and more supported.