Over the past century, technology has greatly improved radiology services in hospitals, and it continues to do so. One of the emerging technologies transforming radiology is artificial intelligence (AI).
AI is a field focused on developing intelligent applications that mimic human cognition. In radiology, healthcare organizations are applying AI by creating advanced computer algorithms, feeding them with thousands of radiology scans, and programming them to identify patterns indicative of health abnormalities. This way, the algorithms can complement the work of radiologists, assisting them to quickly pinpoint even the tiniest fractures or tumors in medical scans. This is greatly enhancing the speed and efficiency of diagnoses, leading to better treatment outcomes for time-sensitive illnesses like cancer.
Beyond speed and accuracy, AI can also enhance access to health care. People in rural and underserved areas often lack access to radiology services. By coupling AI with telemedicine, existing medical centers can perform medical diagnoses for these people, saving them from having to make long trips to consult with specialists.
AI will also improve the workflow of radiologists. Many radiologists struggle with burnout because of the hundreds of images they must analyze and the reports they must write manually. One study published by Radiology Business showed that 45 percent of radiologists experienced burnout in their careers. Integrating AI in radiology will reduce the time radiologists spend checking and counterchecking scans. AI can also automate report creation, saving radiologists from doing repetitive administrative tasks.
