AI and the Future of Medical Imaging

How AI is Being Used in Medical Imaging

Few people could have imagined a decade ago the impact artificial intelligence (AI) would have on society in general and healthcare specifically. However, important medical advances are occurring today at the intersection of medical imaging and artificial intelligence.

This article provides insights on the exciting topic of AI in diagnostic imaging and answers some important questions.

Is AI used in CT scans?

Yes, the use of AI in CT scans is increasing. Doctors use it to evaluate risks, create reports and for other purposes.

Does an MRI use AI?

Doctors are increasingly using AI in MRI imaging scans. As with CT scans, they leverage it in many ways with these procedures.

Benefits of AI in Medical Imaging

AI-based medical imaging provides many advantages to patients and care teams. Most importantly, AI helps increase accuracy. While doctors are ultimately responsible for medical image analysis, AI can identify patterns and anomalies and ensure the physician is aware of them. This collaboration between artificial and human intelligence can enable more effective treatments and better patient outcomes.

Using AI in medical image analysis also streamlines the process, helping doctors determine and share results more efficiently. By enabling healthcare organizations to be more productive, artificial intelligence imaging analysis can also alleviate the burden on imaging experts, which is especially important in areas with shortages of these specialists.

Challenges and Limitations of AI in Medical Imaging

Like all technology, AI imaging has drawbacks. For example, one challenge is that AI models must have access to large amounts of data to “learn” how to interpret images. For rare conditions, the available data may be limited. Another issue is that AI models can be affected by biases they inherit from the data used to train them.

Other concerns involve issues like data privacy, the ethics of involving non-human intelligence in decision-making and accountability for errors or misdiagnoses. In addition, regulatory frameworks for the use of AI in healthcare must be in place and will have to be modified as the technology advances and is leveraged in new ways.

How Is Baptist Health Using AI in Medical Imaging?

Baptist Health implements proven technology to deliver the best possible patient care. That includes using AI in diagnostic imaging to maximize the benefits of those procedures. How and when we use it varies based on the condition being evaluated or treated and other factors. However, when we determine AI can improve a patient’s outcome, we take advantage of it.

The Future of AI in Medical Imaging

If the evolution of artificial intelligence to date is any indicator, the use of AI in ultrasound imaging, MRIs, CT scans and other imaging procedures will grow rapidly. Systems will likely get faster and more accurate with each new iteration of the underlying technology.

That’s great news for patients and healthcare professionals alike. People will always be the foundation of exceptional care, but technology will continue to play a pivotal role in freeing them to provide it.

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