technology
A New AI
AUGMENTED INTELLIGENCE IS CHANGING
THE WAY WE SUPPORT EMPLOYEES BATTLING CANCER
Technology that has the ability to learn, and then respond
based on that learning, is permeating much of our every-day
lives. From apps that choose our music and movies
based on our past preferences, to batteries that last lon-ger
based on how we use them, the benefits of machine learning
continue to rise. However, what should really get benefits profes-sionals
excited is the impact of AI on improving care, reducing
costs and ultimately supporting life-changing decisions for
their employees.
Consider the volume and fast pace of change of medical infor-mation,
studies and research that physicians are expected to keep
pace with. One study noted that it would take 29 hours per work
day for a physician to stay up to date with the latest medical lit-erature,
and that on average, it takes about 17 years for the latest
research to be translated into clinical practice. That lag has vast
consequences on diagnosis and treatment plans, particularly for
the most complex and costly medical cases.
THE POWER OF AUGMENTED INTELLIGENCE
While the term artificial intelligence is widely known, it’s the
practice of “augmented” intelligence that is driving value in health-care.
Augmented intelligence is the use of cognitive computing in
combination with human expertise to solve problems, and it has
tremendous ability to improve outcomes in healthcare.
How? For one, consider a patient with a cancer diagnosis. How
do they verify that not only is the diagnosis they received correct,
but that the treatment plan is also the best for their particular case?
How can they be sure that every treatment, every clinical trial and
every option has been considered by their care team? When you
marry augmented intelligence with the accessibility and conve-nience
of virtual care, the possibilities grow.
Today, virtual care platforms are harnessing the power of cog-nitive
computing to deliver high-quality care anywhere, anytime,
while also tackling some of the highest cost drivers in health-care.
Rather than isolated medical opinions or treatment options,
these offerings are instantly integrated into the current healthcare
ecosystem. Now, there is greater access to best practices, and indi-viduals
can get access to the highest-rated physicians, to overcome
a host of barriers to quality care.
Augmented intelligence in virtual care is built around leaving
no stone unturned. When an individual wants a careful review of
their treatment plan, AI can derive hundreds of attributes from
a patient’s electronic health record, including doctors’ notes and
lab reports and analyze them using Natural Language Processing
technology. When the best human minds in medicine are then
By Lewis Levy, MD, FACP
Kittipong Jirasukhanont/123rf.com
HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA ❚ DECEMBER 2018 ❚ 47
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