Fri, 28 Feb 2025

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 Can AI help modernise Ireland's healthcare system?

Ireland is investing billions of euros to revamp its healthcare service - will AI help?
Ireland's hospitals are struggling with outdated technology, leading to long waiting lists and delays in care. The country has ambitious plans to modernize its healthcare system, but many challenges remain. A recent computer system failure at Dublin's Mater hospital forced it to cancel surgeries and advise patients not to visit the emergency department. One of the main issues is the lack of shared patient records and diagnostic tools. Prof Peter McMahon, a consultant radiologist at the Mater, says that Ireland's hospitals are behind in terms of technology compared to other countries. However, the Mater is now pioneering the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its radiology department. The hospital has trained an AI model to analyze head scans for bleeds, chest scans for blood clots, and bone x-rays for fractures. This allows doctors to prioritize patients with urgent needs and make more accurate diagnoses. Other hospitals in Ireland are also experimenting with AI, but many face significant challenges. Letterkenny University Hospital, for example, has no MRI facilities outside of regular hours, forcing patients to be transported to Dublin for scans. The use of AI in healthcare is not without its problems, however. AIs can have biases and "hallucinate" by inventing non-existent medication or diagnoses. Doctors need to be trained to understand the limitations of AI and ensure that it is used correctly. Regulators are also struggling to keep up with the rapid development of AI in healthcare. Dr Aidan Boran, a researcher at Dublin City University, says that getting a CE mark for software as a medical device is not relevant when manufacturing involves copying code. The use of AI in healthcare raises many questions about accountability and transparency. Doctors need to be able to explain treatment decisions made with the help of AI, but complex algorithms can make it difficult to understand what's happening inside them. Overall, Ireland's hospitals are taking steps towards modernizing their technology and using AI to improve patient care. However, significant challenges remain, and regulators must keep up with the rapid development of new technologies.
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