Imperial College Healthcare has announced it’s achieved a level six digital maturity rating, by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and introduced an AI tool to help predict type 2 diabetes.
Ranked out of seven levels of criteria, the rating has been awarded for being an institution that “leverages health tech for advanced data exchange and interoperability for improved patient engagement, clinical efficiency, and departmental insights”.
The trust has implemented a number of digital upgrades over the years, including the adoption of technology that scans patient medication and bloods and then automatically links that information to the patient’s electronic records, said to “ensure the right medication and dosage is given the right patient when needed”.
Imperial College Healthcare also recently introduced an AI tool to help predict type 2 diabetes up to 10 years in advance, by analysing subtle changes in EGC readings during routine heart scans. Developed by consultant cardiologist, Dr Fu Siong Ng, cardiology specialist registrar, Dr Arunashis Sau and the team, the AI-ECG Risk Estimation for Diabetes Mellitus (AIRE-DM) tool is said to be accurate around 70% of the time. It can help to spot risks of developing type 2 diabetes for people of any age, gender and ethnicity, to help them take preventative steps for the future.
Commenting on the use of digital technology to advance patient care and staff workload, chief nurse information officer of Imperial College Healthcare had this to say, “We will be continuing our digital journey over the coming months and years, further embedding existing technologies and developing our digital offer to our patients and staff.”
AI and healthcare: the wider trend
In November, we reported on how AI and imaging has helped tackle cancer waiting lists in Barking, Havering and Redbridge. These university hospitals have been participating in an initiative to utilise AI to reduce waiting times for X-ray results. This has helped staff when it comes to prioritising patients based on their results.
Great Ormond Street Hospital is planning on expanding its use of the TORTUS AI assistant to 5,000 patients following its successful trial with 100 patients previously. This assistant automates note-taking during patient appointments, using ambient voice technology and generative AI to draft clinical notes. This information can then be checked by the clinician before being uploaded to the hospital’s EHR or sent out to patients.
In a recent panel discussion around digital workforce education and training, we discussed how AI is one of the biggest opportunities for the future of healthcare. David Holland, deputy CCIO for Allied Health Professionals at Leeds Teaching Hospitals said, “the use of AI is going to be really important for informing the way forward in terms of patterns of treatment, integrating pathways and making sure we work smarter and more effectively to secure patient outcomes.”
And finally, Quadrivia, Ali Parsa’s AI company, has launched a beta version of their own personal clinical assistant tool Qu. This assistant is designed to support clinicians with clinical and administrative tasks, as well as patient interactions, continuous monitoring, decision-making and chronic and post-operative care. It also gives responses based on a clinical knowledge base and validated by clinicians, representing the potential future of clinical healthcare.
Find out more about AI and healthcare here and check out our upcoming panel discussions to learn more about this topic, including our webinar on health tech and innovation for the future.
