The companies using AI to catch illness faster than ever before

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The global healthcare industry has transformed in the past five years, from the widespread adoption of telehealth during the pandemic to increased standardization of electronic health records (EHRs) worldwide. Now, the healthcare space is entering a new frontier with the rapid introduction of AI. Companies across North America, such as IBM and Microsoft, are already using machine learning algorithms to improve patient experiences. 

AI is highly effective when it comes to repetitive, time-consuming tasks such as data processing and synthesis. This attribute makes it the perfect sidekick to help analyze the thousands of data points that doctors must sift through every day. 

“By combining the power of AI with a comprehensive EHR platform, we believe we can unlock enormous potential to enhance patient care and drive better health outcomes,” said Alexander Dobranowski, founder and CEO of Healwell AI, in a recent statement to the press. 

This week, the digital health leader announced its subsidiary research group was able to successfully validate the use of generative AI to identify rare lung cancer patients. Co-authored by health industry leaders such as Johnson & Johnson, the research paper joins a growing base of evidence that AI is actively helping save lives. 

These needle-in-a-haystack cases can often go uncovered or misdiagnosed, sometimes until it is too late. However, with finely-tuned generative AI tools, companies like Healwell AI hope to help practitioners unlock insights buried among millions of pages of clinical data and EHRs. 

PocketHealth is another early mover in the space doing just that. Medical practices often manage hundreds of patient files including imaging from X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds. This Toronto-based company recently raised $45 million to help patients take a proactive role in their own care through direct access to their health records VIA an app that includes AI-driven insights. 

In an industry that constantly struggles with labor and resource shortages, greater efficiency and accessibility means doctors can spend more quality time face-to-face with their patients. While these tools may be digital, they are ultimately paving the way for a healthcare experience that is far more personal and patient-centric than ever before. 

Looking ahead, the future of healthcare appears to be intertwined with the evolution of AI. As data-sharing practices become more standardized and regulatory frameworks adapt to accommodate tech advancements, the integration of AI in healthcare will only increase.

Technologies such as telehealth platforms and AI assistants can now be offered as turnkey solutions to medical practices around the world. As a result, we are verging on a new era of healthcare leaders who are no longer bound by time and resource constraints.