AI is rapidly becoming an essential tool for developers of regulated health applications. In an exclusive interview, Huma, a provider of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) solutions, shares insights on how AI enhances clinical decision-making and why the human element remains crucial in healthcare.
Huma is a digital health company focused on providing digital-first care and research. It supports healthcare, biopharma, and medical technology organizations in developing SaMD solutions, leveraging Huma’s Class IIb EU MDR and Class 2 510k FDA regulated platform. Huma also integrates AI models, whether developed internally or by clients, into its platform.
We spoke with Jessica Cormier-Breslin, Huma’s Director of Clinical Services for US Healthcare; Michael Macdonnell, Global Head of Healthcare & Pharma Partnerships; and Benjamin Irving, head of Huma’s AI team, about their plans for Gen AI and its role in the SaMD sector.
Why has Huma Invested in Gen AI?
Michael Macdonnell (MM): Our initial interest in Gen AI was to enhance our productivity and the efficiency of healthcare services. Gen AI, a form of artificial intelligence, is used alongside various algorithms we develop to predict risks, such as cardiovascular issues, and to objectively measure symptoms, which helps in tracking disease progression. We've partnered with Google, a leader in model building, to leverage their expertise in medical data and literature.
How Does Huma Use AI to Assist Clinical Monitoring Teams?
Jessica Cormier-Breslin (JCB): AI streamlines patient monitoring by consolidating and summarizing data points, making it easier for clinicians to access critical information swiftly. This saves time and ensures accuracy. Multiple layers of human oversight verify the information's accuracy and relevance before it reaches the provider, enhancing healthcare efficiency while maintaining quality standards.
Can You Provide an Example of AI Enhancing Clinical Decisions?
JCB: Consider a patient with respiratory issues like asthma or COPD, monitored using AI systems. The AI analyzes data from various sources, detecting subtle changes in symptoms that might be missed individually. It identifies patterns and correlates them with other data points, alerting clinicians to potential issues early, prompting timely interventions that can prevent condition exacerbations and improve patient outcomes.
Benefits of AI in Huma’s Disease Management Platform
MM: For conditions like myasthenia gravis, AI helps patients understand their disease progression. For example, ptosis (eyelid drooping) can be quantified using AI, allowing for earlier clinical decisions. Benjamin Irving (BI): We use smartphones to capture voice metrics and visual data, providing quantitative measures that track disease progression and inform clinical decisions.
How Does Huma Use AI to Enhance Patient Engagement?
JCB: AI personalizes patient communications, ensuring messages are tailored to individual needs, fostering a stronger patient-care team bond. This personalized approach improves patient engagement and health outcomes, as patients feel more connected and supported.
BI: Patients appreciate tools that allow them to track their disease between clinical visits, improving engagement through continuous feedback.
Ensuring Safe and Responsible AI Use
BI: We adhere to strict privacy and security standards, ensuring patient data is protected and not shared inappropriately. JCB: Patients can access and share their data with other providers, enhancing coordinated care across different specialties.
Future of AI in Healthcare
BI: AI will provide patients with quantifiable measures of their conditions and predict exacerbations. It will also streamline clinical workflows and improve data integration. MM: We aim for proactive, data-driven care, empowering patients and clinicians to manage health more effectively.
AI in Healthcare: Insights from GlobalData
Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) enhances medical device capabilities, empowering patients to manage their care, especially in areas with limited access to traditional healthcare. Gen AI models, capable of generating high-quality content from data, offer numerous benefits:
Early disease detection and intervention
Improved diagnostic imaging accuracy
Enhanced efficiency through automation
Better communication between patients and healthcare professionals
Support for clinical decisions based on guidelines and data
In the SaMD sector, Gen AI can provide personalized healthcare by collecting data from wearable devices, complementing traditional data sources.
The Growing Role of AI in Healthcare
GlobalData predicts AI will be a key driver of innovation in medical devices, with the AI market expected to grow from $81 billion in 2022 to $909 billion by 2030. AI is classified as a major technology theme impacting the medical device industry, alongside cybersecurity, robotics, wearable tech, and cloud computing.
Increasing Acceptance of Remote Patient Monitoring
The adoption of remote patient monitoring (RPM) technologies surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to continue growing. RPM improves patient care, reduces hospital admissions, and facilitates early discharge, with the market projected to reach $760 million by 2030.
Rise of Specialty Mobile Health Apps
Mobile health apps, often used with wearables, will continue to increase. These apps help manage chronic diseases by monitoring symptoms, managing therapies, and improving treatment adherence.
Conclusion
AI and Gen AI technologies are set to revolutionize healthcare by enhancing efficiency, improving patient outcomes, and streamlining clinical workflows. As the technology evolves, its integration into healthcare systems will become increasingly vital, ensuring better patient care and more efficient healthcare delivery.
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