New study shows how AI can improve recovery in stroke patients – TechRepublic

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The American Heart Association published the results of a trial that shows stroke survivors are twice as likely to take anti-blood clot treatments when they are using an artificial intelligence (AI) platform, compared to those receiving more traditional treatment.

The AI platform, AiCure, uses software algorithms on smartphones to confirm patient identify, the medication, and if the medication was taken. Patients receive automated reminders and dosing instructions as well. Healthcare workers receive real-time data which allows for early detection of patients who are not taking their meds as scheduled.

SEE: Google's DeepMind and the NHS: A glimpse of what AI means for the future of healthcare (ZDNet)

This latest trial, which lasted 12 weeks and was published in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke, shows more of AI's potential. Anti-blood clot medication can prevent another stroke, so it is essential that patients take their medication. Approximately 800,000 people suffer a stroke annually and it is the fifth leading cause of death.

"Many patients are unable to self-manage and are at increased risk of stroke and bleeding. The use of technology and artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly improve health outcomes and reduce costs in clinical care," said Laura Shafner, study coauthor and chief strategy officer at AiCure, in a press release.

AI has vast potential in the healthcare industry. It reduces the tasks that medical professionals must perform and that saves organizations money. Plus, there is plenty of data that healthcare generates and AI systems can be trained to take advantage of this and provide useable information to healthcare providers.

IBM Watson is also busy working on various AI tools for healthcare, such as a chip that can diagnose a potentially fatal condition, a camera that can scan a pill to see if it is real or counterfeit, and a system to identify mental illness. And there are others. An AI program from Behold.ai helps doctors identify cancer and medical abnormalities. Also an AI app developed by the University of Rochester tracks foodbourne illness and helps public health departments spot public health outbreaks. As AI becomes more commonplace, more options will exist to help patients with their health.

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New study shows how AI can improve recovery in stroke patients - TechRepublic