Tag Archives: AI in healthcare

How to Make the Most of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

AI voice recognition is currently considered one of the most interesting modern technologies. According to estimates, 72% of people who own voice-activated speakers say that their devices are now a part of their daily routine, just like artificial intelligence in healthcare.

With new developments in the technology, it is becoming more and more popular. Let’s see why an artificial intelligence-powered medical assistant for clinicians is worth implementing.

Voice Recognition Software

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system is a program that enables a convenient dialogue between the user and the machine. In a broad sense, the system makes it possible to convert audio to text through deep learning. The range of varieties of ASR extends from simple devices and children’s toys to super complex systems for recognizing medical terms etc, that’s why it can solve different problems in different areas. According to some estimates, the number of people who use a voice assistant monthly is 9.5% more in 2019 than last year.

For example, ASR is a convenient method of entering information when a person is busy to type. ASR allows people who need to do several things at the same time (doctors in hospitals, drivers, etc.), to use modern gadgets and easily receive or enter the necessary information.

The only problem of ASR is the difference in pronunciation of the same word by different people. But thanks to machine learning, nowadays the systems are resistant to noise and can recognize speech with an accent. 

AI healthcare forecasts

According to estimates, recognition accuracy has increased by 3% and the accuracy of modern speech recognition systems exceeds 90% compared to 2018.

How to Build Voice into Products

An ASR system allows the user to enter text and perform computer operations through voice. The voice technology for digital health recognizes users’ speech, converts it to text, and then displays the result on the screen. It seems complicated, so let’s see how it works in more detail.

The voice request activates the program that can hear no words but a sound signal without clear division. The task of the speech recognition system is to convert the signal into the words. 

The voice request is sent to the servers and noise is determined and deleted. Then the record is divided into small fragments (frames). For each sound, a complex statistical model is constructed that describes the pronunciation of this sound in speech. Next, the system determines the likely word order and, if necessary, restores unrecognized words according to their meaning based on the context and available statistics.

Then we receive the final result in the form of the most probable sequence of words.

Turning speech to text technology is a complicated process which is why it is important to rely on professionals who will make a custom program for you with all the necessary features you need. 

Advantages of Voice Recognition Software

The advantages of voice technology are evident, as they make remote management of devices easier. This is the most useful function because it allows to perform a certain number of tasks at once and quickly respond in any situation.

The benefits of artificial intelligence voice recognition software:

  • the ability to turn speech into text;
  • no need for an additional intermediary between you and the device;
  • high reaction speed;
  • maximum accuracy;
  • input is carried out by the simplest way – through the voice;
  • easy to perform several tasks at once;
  • remote control makes device management more convenient;
  • useful in extreme situations.

Why Interact With Devices Using Voice in Healthcare

Why should we use voice recognition in healthcare? The answer to this question is simple: most people speak faster than they type. A reasonably experienced operator can type a 300-word message in about six minutes. When using a speech recognition system, this time is reduced twice thanks to natural language processing.

Previously, it was believed that doctors could use speech recognition systems only to dictate text to a computer. However, modern systems can provide more significant assistance to any medical specialist. Such systems are used to write e-mail, work on gadgets, compile medical records, speed up the flow of information, and also protect medical workers from additional workload and stress. And a voice-activated virtual assistant can easily increase the productivity of any employee, i.g. about 40% of medical workers suffer burnouts. 

Nowadays most speech recognition systems in medicine allow the user to add new words to the dictionary and, thanks to machine learning, adapt the system to function in a particular medical department. In addition, some systems initially include dictionaries of medical terms such as the names of diseases, drugs and tests, which helps them to automatically recognize and edit epicrisis texts and recipes. 

Clinical Documentation Generated Through Voice Recognition

Nowadays, one of the most time-consuming aspects in healthcare is creating and maintaining medical records. For every hour spent with a patient, a clinician spends two hours documenting and developing a care plan. It is known that physicians especially need prompt and error-free documentation of their medical research. Over the years, different approaches have been used to simplify the process: from attracting operators to using special online forms where the data would be checked. But how can we use artificial intelligence to optimize note-taking?

Speech recognition systems are the solution that streamlines the maintenance of electronic medical records or any documentation. Thanks to it, the doctors are now able to increase work efficiency (there is no longer a need to fill out documents manually). 

It’s done in real-time: at an exam room, the doctor dictates information, which is instantly and automatically transferred to text. 

AI voice-controlled apps in healthcare

Care Angel, Suki, and Voiceitt interfaces

Advantages of using voice-enabled digital assistant for doctors are as follows:

  • Voice typing outperforms an experienced stenographer 1.5-2 times, which significantly saves the time. 
  • There is a revenue increase because of more patients examined daily.
  • Specialized dictionaries allow you to accurately recognize and correctly format medical terms.
  • There is software that recognizes voice with no Internet connection.
  • Due to the medical speech recognition, the improved quality of services allows doctors to spend more time with patients.

Data Security and HIPAA Compliance

New technologies, from human artificial intelligence devices to electronic medical records allow doctors to save lives. They help collect more information to study the patient’s history. These technologies constantly interact with big data, exchanging health information through complex systems, which increases the risks of information leak. Doctors are no longer the only carriers of sensitive health information. For example, database managers are also responsible for information safety.

Because of the vulnerability of health information, the U.S. government has passed the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These laws require organizations that deal with health information to take certain measures to ensure confidentiality and security, as well as inform patients if their personal data are at risk. 

Patient’s personal health information includes:

  • information about the patient’s health, both physical and psychological;
  • the history of their visits to medical institutions;
  • financial information about medical services;
  • personal data:  all contact details, photos, etc.

Nowadays the regulation provides the most stringent set of rules in the world as to the collection, usage, and storage of personal data. Therefore, anyone who develops healthcare applications needs to stick to these rules.

The regulation doesn’t contain any step-by-step instructions, it only establishes a number of general rules and principles that the developer must take into account. 

Developer’s responsibilities:

  • ensuring privacy during the entire development cycle of the system;
  • taking sufficient and necessary technical and organizational measures to ensure the integrity and security of the system;
  • taking into account the risks associated with the processing of personal data, including their accidental or intentional destruction, loss, modification, or unauthorized disclosure.

Summing up AI in healthcare

Artificial intelligence and voice recognition can become a life-saving tool in healthcare. However, it’s hard to design such software and there are plenty of nuances to be aware of when dealing with sensitive data. Whether it’s speech recognition integration or AI voice-controlled software development, make sure you follow regulations.