AI breakthrough in healthcare to revolutionize cardiology and more

NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) – Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform healthcare, with experts across Connecticut predicting it will lead to longer, healthier lives.

Doctors believe AI will play a critical role in improving diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes in ways that were once unimaginable.

Dr. Rohan Khera, a cardiologist working on a cutting-edge AI project, is optimistic about the future of heart healthcare.

“People talk about the challenges of AI, but they don’t fully grasp how much healthcare will change—and how much easier it will be for patients,” he said.

Dr. Khera, director of the Cardiovascular Data Science Lab at Yale School of Medicine, and his team have made an exciting breakthrough that could revolutionize the detection of heart conditions.

The lab developed an AI algorithm using millions of anonymous electrocardiogram (ECG) tests to analyze a patient’s heart health.

This advanced tool can instantly process an ECG and send the results directly to a patient’s doctor.

“We focused on the problem we needed to solve, found the tools we needed, and developed the technology to address it,” Dr. Khera explained.

Currently undergoing clinical trials, the AI-powered system could make it easier for patients to get heart screenings.

With this technology, a patient could receive an ECG from their primary care doctor or even from a smartwatch, potentially avoiding costly and time-consuming visits to specialists.

“We built applications that can automatically transmit information from the watch to your phone, and then from your phone to the doctor,” Dr. Khera said.

Beyond just detecting current conditions, the program can predict future heart issues, helping doctors intervene before problems escalate.

This innovation is just one example of AI’s growing potential in healthcare.

Dr. Lucilla Ohno-Machado, chair of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science at Yale School of Medicine, oversees many AI programs, including those aimed at detecting breast cancer earlier and predicting the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer.

Yale University is investing $150 million in AI research over the next five years, positioning itself at the forefront of healthcare technology.

Dr. Ohno-Machado believes that AI will usher in a golden age of healthcare over the next decade, enhancing the quality of care and improving patient outcomes across the board.

Dr. Khera shares this vision, noting that AI has the potential to reduce healthcare costs while improving diagnostic accuracy.

“The technology we are building is designed to level the playing field for diagnostics, reduce disparities in care, and ultimately make healthcare better for everyone,” he said.

With major advancements like these on the horizon, the future of healthcare looks brighter than ever.

Click here to discover other ways AI can change the future.

Copyright 2024 WFSB. All rights reserved.