The technological innovation of ICS infrastructure is set to expand exponentially through outcomes such as digital transformation. Let us put this into perspective, shall we? With over 67 million inhabitants in the UK seeking medical treatment at various points in their life throughout the 1229 hospitals and 8,843 general practitioner practices, terabytes of critical data points are being collected and stored in digital vaults.

As of now, a large proportion of this information lies outside the analytical grasp of our current data-driven tools, which cannot generate in-depth analysis to inform us of important medical solutions.

Moreover, supply chains, interfacility communication and patient load are all elements burdening the archaic infrastructure currently present within our healthcare treatment.

What is the answer to this? Well, suppose the inclusion of technologies that can identify, analyze and efficiently archive this ocean of data for future retrieval. In that case, many of these burdens will be subsequently alleviated, allowing our ICSs to undertake their roles with ease.

This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes into play, and we already have examples in our homes that clearly show how AI technologies can significantly impact our healthcare services.

Think about Apple’s Siri chatbot or Amazon’s Alexa; they are comprehensive and highly sophisticated systems that give its owner increased agency and mobility within their own home. With abilities ranging from temperature and light control to setting up communications and scheduling appointments, this simple yet profoundly efficient technology has shifted the paradigm of personal functioning.

Expand your perspective and imagine how a similar technology tailored to large and dynamic hospital facilities could significantly evolve to benefit patients and healthcare providers.

Picture how treatment interventions could be expedited and improved or how the reach of local healthcare services would greatly expand. This is what AI can bring to our national ICSs.

Neil Howell, Chief Innovation Officer at ICS.AI, shared how “There are so many clerical processes in hospitals that we could automate” and often, how these processes produce inequalities of treatment for low-income population groups.

Moreover, AI has also been mentioned in support of reducing racial inequalities within healthcare settings. In the UK, there is a persistent issue within population datasets which fail to represent the racial disparities between regional population groups accurately.

This issue has become so salient that Sajid Javid, the health secretary, approved several digital initiatives, including AI, to tackle the observed disparities.

More specifically, AI-driven technologies can aptly identify discrepancies within datasets and find solutions to readdress any skewed results. This is particularly important for the BAME (black Asian and minority ethnic) group in the UK, which faces the highest health inequalities from the rest of the population.

To place into perspective, black women in the UK are five times more likely to die from pregnancy complications compared to white women. This highlights a severe lack of cohesive data regarding this underlying discrepancy, leading to reduced capabilities of informing novel treatment methods.

Ultimately, the inequalities of BAME populations are one of many barriers the NHS seeks to remove.

“Technology, particularly AI, can be an incredible force for good. It can save valuable clinician time and help provide faster, more accurate diagnosis, so patients can access the care they need as quickly as possible. It can also help us better understand racial differences so we can train our workforce to look for different symptoms or complicating factors, diagnose faster, and tailor treatments.” Expressed Javid.

AI-driven technology can profoundly impact how ICSs deliver care to their respective localities. The current hurdles they need to surmount is the inequalities between various subsets of the population and how AI can be oriented towards these groups to ensure that they receive equal treatment.

At the end of the day, all lines of evidence point to the revolutionary capabilities of AI technology. It is now up to the human component to ensure that it is delivered fairly to the rest of the population.

Through empirical evidence and practical application, the NHS is already building an extensive library of knowledge and experience outlining and guiding the potential implications, applications, and improvement of AI-driven healthcare technologies, it is within our gift to harness this wealth of information and apply it to improve patient outcomes across all demographics. HIC are at the forefront of developing realistic digital strategies for healthcare provider organisations and the implementation of ambitious AI technologies are at the forefront of our vision. Our teams are here to help you navigate the complex world of digital tech in the healthcare industry as we seek to implement innovative AI technology across the sector.

If you’re looking for knowledge and advice about Artificial Intelligence, act today and get in touch with our experts at HIC.