Revolutionizing healthcare: The current landscape of generative AI – insights from WHC 2024 Plenary Session 3

On 12 September at the World Hospital Congress in Rio, Plenary 3 welcomed three global leaders shared how they’re harnessing generative AI (artificial intelligence) in healthcare. They shared takeaway insights to the challenges they are solving, their approach to implementations and the outcomes to date. They also tackled important questions: Is generative AI the gamechanger we have been banking on? Can it address the current gaps across the world? What is working?  

Chris Bates, Director of Research and Analytics at TPP opened the session by emphasizing AI’s incredible ability to recognize patterns and understand context, making it a powerful tool in healthcare. However, the challenge lies in preventing bias, reducing health inequalities, and balancing innovation with regulation. 

The current landscape of AI 

The chair of the session, Sara Siegel, Global Head of Healthcare at Deloitte, provided a clear overview of the current situation of generative AI in healthcare. She outlined the multiple technology layers of generative AI, and its risks and mitigations. She also explored how generative AI is a key piece of the puzzle in the strategic application of healthcare technologies to mitigate existing risks such as workforce shortages and clinician burnout. Her message was clear: AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, but it must be carefully managed. She then introduced three presentations sharing examples of success stories for integrating AI in healthcare, each demonstrating benefits for patients, healthcare workers, and hospital operations. 

AI in ophthalmology: Screening for glaucoma 

Dr Rafael Correia Barão, an opthalmologist at Unidade Local de Saúde (ULS) Santa Maria in Portugal, discussed the Screening and Eye Examination project using AI Resources (SEER) project, which uses AI to screen for diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. He explained that these conditions are leading causes of blindness, but they are preventable. At ULS they created a solution with AI-assisted retinal imaging, a platform that identifies at-risk patients, significantly increasing screening capacity while reducing unnecessary doctor visits. Their screening platform is not there to diagnose but it’s there to identify people at risk – it determines if a patient should be seen or not. SEER’s AI can scan multiple conditions with a single scan, and it can be integrated into primary care settings.  

“With this technology we can screen three times more patients compared to the traditional clinical setting. And the need for doctor visits for case findings would be reduced by over 90%.” 

In just three years, the project becomes cost effective and, in 15 years, it could prevent half of all blindness cases. 

Transforming hospital operations 

Prof. Aymeric Lim, Chief Executive Officer at National University Hospital in Singapore (NUHS), showcased how AI is streamlining hospital operations. He shared how Singapore’s healthcare system excels in balancing high life expectancy with low costs, and AI is helping them further enhance care. Some of the factors contributing to good outcomes at lower cost are a unique financing system, long-term investment in a high-quality workforce and the ability to plan long term. AI-powered chatbots, telemedicine, and virtual care improve access while reducing administrative burdens.  

At NUHS one exciting innovation is the “serenitybot,” which helps clinicians make treatment decisions based on cancer care guidelines. It helps with decision making. For him, data infrastructure is the foundation and the most important thing is: The clinician is ultimately legally responsible for their patient’s care and health outcomes. That’s the bottom line.  

“The AI revolution of today is the most significant of human existence. AI will transform healthcare, but its deployment needs to be balanced with proactive governance.” 

Will society be able to adapt? 

Care transformation and innovation 

Dr Michael Schlosser, Senior Vice President of Care Transformation and Innovation at HCA Healthcare, spoke about the importance of scaling AI solutions to make a meaningful impact. 

“If we’re really going to transform healthcare, if we really want to see a different outcome for our patients in a meaningful measurable way, ultimately we need the applications to be scaled.”

These are some on the areas one could focus on: 

• The importance of having a clearly defined vision and structured strategy. 
• Involving the end users directly in the development of the applications as an ongoing process. 
• Rigorously measuring impact, in healthcare operations we tend to fall off a little bit. 
• Partnering with the companies that develop these solutions. 

At HCA healthcare they decided to focus on reducing the administrative burden on healthcare workers. One example is the automation of nurse handoffs through digitization, making shift reports more efficient and accurate.  

The future of AI in healthcare 

During the panel discussion, the speakers agreed that some of the most exciting developments in AI are reducing administrative workloads, improving screening protocols, and enhancing decision-making. While there’s a mix of fear and excitement around AI, the potential is undeniable. Chatbots, for instance, are a perfect example of how AI can improve patient experiences – they get never tired, and their endless patience could bring joy back to patient care. 

Generative AI is already transforming healthcare. But the real challenge will be ensuring we maintain human oversight while we make the best out of this powerful tool.