One of the recent key trends observed in the UAE healthcare sector is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and other high technologies. Speaking at the Future Healthcare Summit that took place at JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai Marina , speakers explained how Artificial Intelligence is transforming patient experience and care delivery but at the same time pointed to some of the risks involved.
Technological Advancements for Improving the Human Factor of Patient Care
AI is assisting the doctors offer better care to patients and do so in a more efficient manner. The last breakthrough is telling; Brian de Francesca of Al Sharq Healthcare explained that a dozen microphones in a clinic can record and transcribe conversations between doctors and patients. Cutting out these details frees up time for more productivity of doctors at their center of concern, the patient.
The Chairman of the Board at Emirates Hospitals Group, Christian Schuhmacher also noted that AI is being used for predictive healthcare. Wearable devices in conjunction with AI can thoroughly scrutinize patient’s data to identify possible health problems months and even years ahead. Schuhmacher said: “We are moving from sick-acclaimed care to being health and wellness directors.”
Turning Data into Insights
However, the problem with the volumes of patient data available is how best it can be leveraged. This way, Schuhmacher said, organizations have become ‘data-rich but insight-poor.’ They also show that AI can advocate for behavioral changes, as in the example of tracking heart rates over time – indicating that a change in behavior is needed.
Likely negative consequences associated with healthcare use of AI
Others in the same session raised concerns on the same subject citing the dangers AI posed in diagnostics. Dr. The AI should not replace human knowledge according to Riaz Khan, the Chief Strategy Officer at Hosmac Middle East. AI can recommend options such as using MRIs instead of CT scans; however, the substitution of doctors with AI may cause massive confusion, he added.
The promise of technologies like CRISPR is that they’re gene editing tools, that have potential pros and cons. Of course, they could get rid of all the genetic diseases but what about misusing them in biological warfare,” Brian de Francesca,
The Challenge of Technology: Can Humans Find The Right Path?
While advancing AI technologies have started impacting the Emirati healthcare setting, that is quite clear that the question of how is much more important than the question of what.
