Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare

Artificial intelligence came into existence as a scientific and academic discipline decades ago. However, the technology has become popular and is being increasingly adopted in various industries only in the last few years because of the developments and advancements. Since technology has gained momentum, it is expected to evolve further and support business growth via better efficiency, enhancements, and seamless business operations.

Several industries are set to benefit by using a variety of AI applications to improve their business results and achieve goals in the future. AI is a boon for service providers and customers since buyers get better output without additional costs.

We are diving deep to explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are shaking things up in healthcare. Plus, we will discuss how the healthcare field has seen major wins by weaving in AI and machine learning solutions.

What Is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

The roots of artificial intelligence go back to the year 1950 when a scientist, Alan Turing, coined the term computer machinery and intelligence where he designed and tested what he called ‘The Imitation Game’.

However, the exact term Artificial intelligence was used by an American origin computer scientist, John McCarthy, who defined it correctly and described it as the precise engineering and explicit science of crafting intelligent machines. He defined AI as the study of an intelligent agent (a computer system) that identifies the environment and takes relevant actions to maximize success rate.

Today, every person with minimal knowledge of technology and who uses different gadgets and machines in their daily routine understands AI to be an algorithm or program-controlled robot that performs rendered tasks with an intelligence quotient just like humans do.

Top Use Cases of Artificial Intelligence in Diverse Industries

An AI-enabled system can recognize, reason, implement, and learn from experts’ details and specimen input, which leads to constant upgradation.

AI in the medical industry

The healthcare industry consists of several complex processes that consume healthcare professionals’ time and effort, affecting their output. The incorporation of AI in healthcare services includes data management, accurate and quick diagnosis of patient’s health conditions, post-surgery patient care, and more.

AI for retail and e-commerce players

The best use case of AI is in the retail and e-commerce industry, where the competition is tough, and every player wants to offer the best buying experience to their customers, as one bad experience in this sector means losing the game and disappointed customers never come back to buy again. This is possible only when every task is automated so that there are fewer chances of errors and deliveries are timely. AI also helps customers answer all their questions instantly without human intervention.

AI in travel and hospitality industry

An increasing number of people are using online travel portals to book their trips, which makes it necessary for travel companies to improve their services and render the best travel deals along with accurate and instant answers to customer queries. AI has supported this sector with AI-powered mobile applications and efficient chatbots that ensure 24*7 assistance to customers worldwide.

AI across logistics and distribution sector

Supply chain management is complicated as it deals with many parcels from different vendors that must be delivered to separate addresses within the given timeframe. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are dynamic in this segment since AI-enabled robots manage massive warehouses and perform all essential tasks like sorting, packaging, labeling, and dispatching. This helps in quick delivery service and proper coordination amongst warehouse and delivery professionals.

AI powering food delivery platforms and services

With online food delivery services gaining momentum, the use of AI is necessary to make the order-placing process and delivery service seamless. While customers enjoy the simple ordering process with a few clicks, restaurants, and food delivery services can serve more customers in a day compared to the past.

AI enabling banking sector and financial institutions

The banking sector has quickly evolved tremendously using AI as document processing has become automated. Now, bank professionals can manage and secure their client’s data and search for particular details within seconds whenever required. The AI-based chatbots help clients perform various tasks online via the bank’s website or application, sitting at their homes, elevating the customer experience to the next level.

Read More: How AI and Robotics Will Impact the Healthcare Industry?

The Growth Trends and Statistics of AI in Healthcare

Now that we have talked about different sectors that use AI and machine learning to the best possible extent, it is time to focus on our main topic, which is the use of AI in the healthcare industry. Healthcare organizations face a challenge to save and maintain data as it is of utmost importance. If patient details and past health records are kept well, it becomes easy to make the right decisions and render the best treatment proactively.

Artificial intelligence has undoubtedly transformed the way healthcare professionals have dealt with data. Also, there are better results in diagnosis and post-treatment engagement.

As per the report of Maximize Market Research, AI in the medical sector was estimated at $16.3 billion in the year 2022 and is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 40.2 percent to reach $173.55 billion by the year 2029.

According to a study case, the use of AI has led to automation and better implementation of various aspects involved ever since the patient arrives at the clinical setup, asking for help with post-treatment recovery, which includes therapies, timely medication, and other administrative tasks.

AI is also popular amongst institutions that make drugs since it allows them to define each task beforehand for robots. New drug development is a crucial process wherein proper research, testing, and approvals are involved.

Suppose a drug is not practical and does not match the regulatory body’s benchmarks. In that case, it is rejected, which means that the pharmaceutical company incurs a loss of the invested money in the project.

Read More: Role Of Wearable Technology In The Healthcare Sector

How AI Technology is Transforming Healthcare Treatment and Diagnosis?

The first time AI was used in the medical field was in the 1970s, but the output couldn’t match the accuracy of human diagnostics, and thus, the system wasn’t included in clinical practices. This system was used to diagnose blood-borne infections caused by bacteria.

However, now that the technology has advanced tremendously, machine learning algorithms and AI applications in healthcare are being rapidly integrated to diagnose and treat severe health conditions like cancer, tumors, etc.

In fact, generative AI technology has helped healthcare professionals personalize cancer treatments according to the organ affected and the severity of the disease. Here, an algorithm is used to analyze the DNA derived from a patient’s tumour. Then, a thorough study is conducted to identify sequences and genetic mutations that cause the cancer. Once the information is obtained, the algorithm also recommends a treatment plan that would target and eliminate specific mutations so that there are minimal chances of disease recurrence.

Read more: Benefits Of Mobile Apps In Healthcare Industry

Earlier healthcare organizations found AI implementation difficult, but now the times have changed, and this technology is found even in small clinical setups. Radiological imaging services and genomic-based medicine development have been successfully using AI to research, develop, and introduce new healthcare facilities to ensure better patient treatment.

Some algorithms are making disease predictions possible and helping people become aware and take precautions in advance. The diagnosis involves the study of a person’s past health conditions, current lifestyle, and DNA analysis that indicates possibilities of high-risk health conditions like heart failure, sepsis, diabetes, and more. Healthcare professionals can study such diagnoses and refer proactive treatment plans for patients.

Genetic profiling plays a crucial role in diagnosing severe health conditions, the invention of new drugs, and better treatment protocols, as the results are accurate and quick, which also means that an expert can cater to a number of patients. The quality of treatment is also improving since professionals can focus on communicating with the patient to understand their issues and store data efficiently for future reference in case of emergency.

Patient data is a vital part of the healthcare industry since it involves patient details, treatment taken in the past, current symptoms and health conditions, insurance, and more. Every healthcare organization manages this data with significant efficacy with a variety of AI-based healthcare applications. However, not every application is worth using since there are risks of fraud and data breaches. Therefore, healthcare organizations are vigilant and choosy about the applications they want to streamline their processes.

Read more: Benefits Of Mobile App In Doctor-Patient Communications

AI in Medical Research

Medical research is a vast field that must produce accurate results and meaningful predictions that healthcare professionals can use to derive insights. One crucial part of medical research is drug invention to cater to mutating viruses and bacteria strains.

The need for this segment was recently highlighted when the virus started affecting people in different countries, and it mutated every few days, raising questions about the vaccine’s effectiveness in such a scenario. However, scientists used artificial intelligence and machine learning to perform research and make vaccines effective on different strains, irrespective of mutation.

Read more: How Much Does it Cost to Make a Health & Fitness App?

Real-World and Modern Applications of AI in the Healthcare Industry

AI-based technologies in healthcare have found various applications, from simple data mining processes to complex medical surgeries. Thus, every application designed in this category differs and caters to specific healthcare tasks. Below are some real-world applications and segments that artificial intelligence caters to:

Neural networks

Machine learning is an integral part of AI, and healthcare organizations are successfully using the technology to streamline processes, precision medicine, and neural networks. The definition of AI in neural networks is the use of technology and algorithms to determine the probability of occurrence of a disease. Here, the patient’s details and genomic analysis are used to study how neurons process the signals.

This study definitely focuses on the brain and its related functions. Computer-aided disease detection allows professionals to identify symptoms and growths that would otherwise have been unidentified. Machine learning and AI also have a role in speech recognition, natural language processing, and human behavior, which again is connected to the brain and neural network.

Automated healthcare processes using robots

Healthcare organizations deal with a lot of data daily, and it becomes a challenge to maintain the data accurately. AI offers an inexpensive and accurate alternative to save data, which further smoothens the workflow and ensures better treatment of patients. The data is stored on the computer systems, which also means that it is easily accessible and can be shared with healthcare professionals as and when required. AI-powered data and automated processes involve patient records, billing, and insurance details, which can also be updated as the treatment proceeds since every patient is given a tag number, and all his info is stored under this tag.

AI applications for patient engagement

Noncompliance is a huge hurdle in proper healing due to patient’s negligence in post-op care, medication, and lifestyle changes. In many cases, this has resulted in the recurrence of the condition, which becomes a challenge to deal with. Very few patients are believed to follow strict routines, and this is where artificial intelligence has proved useful.

There are several applications that can be installed in the patient’s mobile phones with features like tracking and reminders for all essential tasks that the healthcare provider expects the patient to accomplish. There are features like prescriptions online, follow-up visits, medicine administration on time, exercise, diet plans, etc.

Some applications are so amazingly designed that they allow healthcare professionals to check the performance of the patient on a day-to-day basis, ensuring proper patient engagement and monitoring. The applications have 24×7 chatbots and nurse assistance features that render assistance in an emergency and properly guide the patient.

Read More: What is HIPAA & How To Create HIPAA-Compliant Mobile Apps?

Administrative AI applications

The use of artificial intelligence in administrative processes in the healthcare industry has proved to be a great alternative since earlier professionals working in the backend used to spend a considerable amount of time regulating, managing, and verifying data that they received from patients.

Clinical documentation, medical record management, and revenue cycle management are real-time processes that are now completed with enhanced efficacy and in less time.

Key Takeaways

We thoroughly explored the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. AI in the medical industry is undoubtedly the new fuel that ensures the seamless and precise functioning of the healthcare sector.

Although the industry has already evolved, there is still more to come in the future, as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will take over more processes that humans accomplish today.

Trials are going on where AI-enabled robots are used to perform surgeries; however, it will take time to rely on technology entirely.

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FAQs

1. What is AI in healthcare?

A growing number of healthcare companies are integrating AI to streamline complex processes and attain accurate results quickly. There are several applications designed to cater to this sector, and healthcare professionals can now focus on treating patients.

2. How is AI transforming healthcare?

AI technology has transformed all sectors, and healthcare is not an exception. There have been tremendous developments where AI has supported medical research and drug invention. With the use of AI in healthcare industry it is now possible to predict a patient’s future health conditions via genomic analysis.

3. How is AI used in healthcare?

Healthcare organizations are using AI to invent drugs and medicines within record time, which took years earlier. Also, AI is used in imaging services, diagnostics, and administrative tasks, which play a crucial part in the sector.

4. What is an example of Artificial intelligence in healthcare?

The most outstanding example of artificial intelligence in healthcare is generative AI, where algorithms and machine learning are used for genomic analysis. A typical healthcare condition where AI has made a commendable contribution is the detection and prediction of cancer. Here, the sample of the tumour is used for the study, and the results are found to be highly accurate. A person who is suffering from cancer can get customized treatment after the tumor is analyzed using AI, which renders the best results post-surgery.

5. What are the applications of AI in healthcare?

Some applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry are improved medical diagnosis, healthcare data management, robot-assisted surgeries, quick drug discoveries, etc. Each process involved in the healthcare sector is now being automated with AI, and better results are obtained that save thousands of lives every day.

6. What are some examples of AI applications in healthcare?

Some examples of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare are medical diagnosis, virtual nursing assistance, fraud detection, genomic analysis, dosage error reduction, customized treatment plans, and more. Healthcare organizations with complex medical processes that want to emphasis on refining the quality of treatment are using artificial intelligence, and experts believe that AI will transform and enhance the overall experience.

7. What is the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a vibrant role in the healthcare industry’s evolution by simplifying complex tasks and rendering quick results that took time years ago. The processes that consumed a considerable amount of time and effort can now be completed with higher accuracy and less time, which allows medical professionals to focus on the treatment. Also, AI-enabled diagnosis machines ensure that every minute detail of the patient’s condition is highlighted so that the person gets the best medicine.

8. Can we expect AI to replace doctors in the future?

Artificial intelligence is incorporated into the healthcare industry with an aim to support doctors, and there are minimal chances that it will replace doctors in the future as well. The AI-enabled robots are under trial and will be used to assist the doctor in the coming years. Apart from this, AI is expected to automate all possible processes with the least human intervention.

9. What is the future scope of AI in healthcare?

AI is still in an evolving phase, and there is still a lot of scope for improvement; as in the future, artificial intelligence is believed to transform healthcare processes and enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of treatment rendered to patients. The aim of incorporating AI in healthcare is to improve the patient experience with better treatments and also make him aware of health conditions that he may suffer in the future so that he is alert and adopts a lifestyle that would help curb the situation.

10. What is generative AI in healthcare?

Generative AI is a segment in the healthcare industry where the patient’s condition is diagnosed and analyzed to the smallest detail via genomic analysis. Here, the person’s DNA is studied, and mutations are identified, leading to the health condition. Once the details are available to the health expert, he can suggest a treatment wherein the mutation can be eliminated, which helps treat the disease and better recovery.