What’s the next big thing in healthcare?My generation has known a world without the internet or iPhones, where faxing was a new and novel idea. In fact, when I was a youngster, wire-free phones that you could hold in your hand and see who you were talking to were the stuff of science fiction legend. When we look at things like self-driving cars, space-based internet communications spreading to every corner of the world, propulsion to Mars, robotics, and aggressive AI development, we wonder, “How does that apply to healthcare and what does it mean for the healthcare industry?”
Given that we have already seen real-world applications of “machine” intelligence (or rather, “artificial”), I believe we are on the brink of a new era in healthcare. And while I don’t think humans or human intervention will become obsolete anytime soon, I do believe that the synergy between humans and machines will make health care safer, more efficient, and more effective.
As an example, Holyoke Medical Center is already using machine learning to help clinicians more efficiently handle the growing documentation burden. We employ technology that listens to your surroundings during your visit and makes appropriate notes on your chart that captures everything you need, leaving more time for face-to-face clinician-patient communication. We are also piloting technology that does not directly diagnose patients or recommend care, but performs a type of monitoring that flags areas of concern and early warning signs that are much harder to pinpoint. Machines can examine an endless stream of data, including test results, vital signs, symptoms, and past medical history, in just seconds, and can do so for many patients at once. A task that would take a human several hours or even days. It can also search vast databases to find matches to specific patterns or disease symptoms to inform decision-making. Crucially, you can do this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, without getting tired.
I think the next big step will be robots with machine learning capabilities, like Tesla’s Optimus. You may have heard about “robotic surgery” or “robot” for years, but this actually refers to machine-assisted surgery. A mechanical “doll” operated by a human surgeon.
But before you consult an actual robotic surgeon, there may be a place for autonomous robots at hospitals like Holyoke Medical Center, and that’s true for difficult or repetitive tasks. One such use is to monitor patients who are confused or restless and are at risk of getting out of bed and falling. Despite all efforts to utilize technology such as bed alarms and cameras as well as human “attendance,” many patients in every hospital across the country continue to fall, sometimes with serious injuries. Technology can help, but the warning that someone is getting out of bed often comes too late. The job of a human observer is one of the most tedious in our hospitals. Imagine having to sit and observe a patient for hours without any distractions or even reading. No wonder it’s so difficult to recruit and retain staff to do this job. Now imagine that Optimus Patient Observer not only watches over your safety 24 hours a day without getting bored or distracted, but also entertains you with music, trivia, and even board games, becomes your personal encyclopedia, makes phone calls on your behalf, and much more. All you need to do is plug it into a power source, charge it, and update the software from time to time.
It may sound futuristic, but I expect to have this technology at Holyoke Medical Center within three years.
The future is definitely going to be exciting. Who knows what will happen next for robots? Beam up, Scotty?
Spiros Hatilas is president and CEO of Valley Health Systems/Holyoke Medical Center.
