How AI will change the medical industry: the impact of AI medical and health advisory assistants

Text: Michael So

Special Advisor to Associate Vice-President

School of Graduate Studies Adjunct Assistant Professor BBA (Hons) in Risk and Insurance Management (2001)

Photo: iStockphoto

The medical industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). From diagnostics to treatment, AI is revolutionising the way healthcare is delivered, making it more efficient, accurate, and personalised. Among the most promising applications are AI medical and health advisory assistants, which have the potential to fundamentally change the practice of treatment.

The role of AI in the medical industry

AI has found numerous applications in the medical field, particularly in diagnostics and treatment planning. AI algorithms can analyse medical images with high precision, identifying patterns and anomalies that may be missed by the human eye. For instance, AI systems are able to detect early signs of diseases such as cancer, enabling timely intervention and improving patient outcomes. Additionally, AI-powered tools can assist in developing personalised treatment plans by analysing a patient’s medical history, genetic information, and lifestyle factors.

AI medical and health advisory assistants

AI medical and health advisory assistants are sophisticated tools designed to support healthcare professionals and patients in managing health conditions by leveraging natural language processing and machine learning to provide accurate medical advice, answer health-related queries, and offer treatment recommendations. They can be integrated into various platforms, including mobile apps, telemedicine services, and electronic health records.

AI health monitor assistants

AI health monitor assistants take the role of AI medical assistants a step further by providing continuous day-to-day support for patients, helping them to manage their health more effectively through:

• Daily health monitoring: AI health monitor assistants can track vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. This continuous monitoring allows for early detection of potential health issues and timely interventions.

• Medication adherence: These assistants can remind patients to take their medications on time, ensuring adherence to prescribed treatments. They can also provide information about potential side effects and interactions with other medications.

• Nutritional guidance: AI health monitors can offer personalised dietary advice based on a patient’s health conditions, preferences, and goals. They can suggest healthy meal options, track nutritional intake, and help manage conditions like diabetes or hypertension through proper diet.

• Lifestyle coaching: By analysing a patient’s activity levels, sleep patterns, and overall lifestyle, AI health monitor assistants can provide recommendations for improving physical health, such as exercise routines, stress management techniques, and sleep hygiene tips.

• Mental health support: Mental well-being is an integral part of overall health. AI health monitor assistants can offer mental health resources, mindfulness exercises, and emotional support as well as identifying early signs of mental health issues, and suggesting appropriate interventions or professional help.

Integration with Medical and Health IoT devices

The adoption of Medical and Health Internet of Things (IoT) devices has been on the rise, providing an additional layer of support for AI health monitor assistants. Devices such as smartwatches and smart health rings are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to continuously collect and transmit health data. These devices can monitor heart rate, sleep patterns, physical activity, and other vital signs in real-time, feeding this information into AI health platforms.

This integration allows for a more comprehensive and accurate picture of a patient’s health, enabling more effective monitoring and personalised care. For instance, wearable devices like the Apple Watch or the Oura Ring can alert users to an irregular heartbeat or potential health issues, prompting timely medical consultations.

Benefits of AI medical assistants

One of the primary benefits of AI medical assistants is their ability to improve the accuracy of diagnoses. By analysing vast amounts of data, they can identify patterns and correlations that might be overlooked by human clinicians, leading to more accurate and timely diagnoses, ultimately enhancing patient care.

Moreover, AI medical assistants can create personalised treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs. By considering factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and medical history, they can recommend treatments that are more likely to be effective, reducing the trial-and-error approach often seen in traditional medicine.

Improved patient monitoring is another major advantage, continuously monitoring vital signs, symptoms, and progress, and alerting healthcare providers to any worrying changes. This proactive approach may prevent complications and ensure timely interventions.

Additionally, AI medical assistants can reduce the workload for healthcare professionals by handling routine tasks such as scheduling appointments, answering common medical questions, and providing follow-up care instructions, freeing up valuable time for doctors and nurses to focus on more complex and critical cases.

Case studies and examples

Successful implementations of AI in healthcare which demonstrate its potential are IBM’s Watson for Oncology used to analyse patient data and recommend treatment options based on the latest medical research, and Ada Health’s AIpowered app providing personalised health assessments and guidance, helping users understand their symptoms and seek appropriate care.

A recent development in AI health monitoring is the introduction of HealthTap, an AI-powered virtual health assistant that offers real-time medical advice and appointment scheduling. Another example is the use of AI in wearable devices such as Fitbit and Apple Watch, which monitor physical activity and provide health insights.

AI is set to revolutionise the medical industry, offering numerous benefits in diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient care. AI medical and health advisory assistants in particular have the potential to considerably improve treatment by providing accurate diagnoses, personalised treatment plans, and enhanced patient monitoring. The integration of Medical and Health IoT devices further amplifies these benefits, enabling continuous health monitoring and personalised care. As the technology continues to evolve, embracing AI in healthcare will be essential to realising its full potential and transforming the future of medicine.