Douglas Flora: Major challenges that AI addresses for medical diagnosis

Douglas Flora shared a post on LinkedIn:

“We are on the brink of a new era: Artificial Intelligence is set to transform how we diagnose diseases.

This morning’s Los Angeles Times has a great Op-Ed for anyone who still needs convincing about the promise of these AI tools in Healthcare including Oncology, where earlier and more accurate diagnoses is mission-critical.

My summary, for the Too long, Didn’t read (TLDR) crowd scrolling rapidly on this platform:

It’s fascinating to look back at the history of medical diagnosis. From ancient Egyptian physicians identifying urinary tract infections through urine patterns to medieval doctors using pulse and percussion to diagnose heart and lung diseases, we’ve come a long way.

AI addresses two major challenges in medical diagnostics:

• Minimizes Human Error: Unlike us, AI doesn’t get tired or overwhelmed. It can analyze massive amounts of healthcare data quickly, spotting details even the most trained eyes might miss. For instance, AI can diagnose ischemic strokes in seconds, far quicker than a busy radiologist.
• Detects Subtle Patterns: AI leads to earlier and more accurate diagnoses. Take hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition. Researchers at Mayo Clinic and UC San Francisco have shown that AI can use routine Electrocardiograms (EKGs) to screen for this condition, often missed in specialized consultations.

Here’s the rub, and why I am trying intentionally to build responsible partnerships between academics, industry and government leaders, integrating AI into healthcare is costly. Developing and training AI requires vast data and significant investment. Unlike therapeutic research, diagnostic research hasn’t received as much funding.

We need federal support to change this, similar to the initiatives seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, folks like Nicole Tapay and the Association of Cancer Care Centers, Lisa A. Lacasse and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Deborah Kamin and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) advocacy teams are representing providers and systems well here.

AI isn’t here to replace human expertise but to complement it. With thoughtful strategic investment and implementation, AI can improve diagnoses, save more lives, and potentially save billions of dollars.

What are your thoughts on AI in healthcare? Share in the comments below!”

Additional information
Source: Douglas Flora/LinkedIn

Douglas Flora is the Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, overseeing clinical operations, strategic planning, and the expansion of cancer programs. He is also the co-founder of the Center for Precision Medicine; Genomic Health.
As the Editor-in-Chief of ‘AI in Precision Oncology,’ the first peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to this field, he plays a pivotal role in advancing research. He is also an active board member of the American Cancer Society and ACCC, where he contributes to advocacy, education, and innovation within the cancer community.