Newsweek connected with health tech leaders to uncover the unconventional AI tools that are solving issues across the industry. Radiology Co-Vice Chair of IT and AI, Elisabeth Garwood, MD was one of four medical professionals who contributed to the article "Unexpected Ways AI Is Changing Health Care—Beyond Notes and Diagnosis." The article was authored by Newsweek Healthcare Editor Alexis Kayser,
Excerpt from article:
Radiology dominates the health care AI market, accounting for 76 percent of FDA-approved AI and machine-learning offerings. Many of these tools can help read and interpret scans, but they have other applications as well, according to Dr. Elisabeth Garwood, associate chief medical information officer and vice chair of AI and clinical innovation at UMass Memorial Health.
UMass runs at least 40 AI algorithms in its clinical workflows, making the imaging process more efficient for doctors and patients, Garwood told Newsweek. One prioritization algorithm flags exams that appear abnormal, so critical patients get results faster. Another AI-powered billing software automatically codes "easier" cases so medical coders—who are in short supply—can focus on tougher cases.
Patients have noticed that they're spending less time in the MRI machine thanks to the health system's acceleration algorithms, Garwood said. It takes time to acquire enough data to create a clear picture of the anatomy, and the image can be grainy if the machine is pushed to go faster. But machine-learning algorithms can process accelerated data, reconstructing high-quality diagnostic images in less time.
Up to 15 percent of patients experience severe forms of anxiety during MRIs, causing approximately 1 in 10 scans to be terminated. AI is helping to make the process more tolerable for patients so doctors can get the results they need.
"MRIs are long, uncomfortable and loud, but they're really valuable for medical decision making," Garwood said. "The acceleration algorithms at UMass are making our MRIs 25 percent faster, and that really hacks the patient experience that they're in the MRI for less time."
