A Deep Look into the AI Revolution in Health & Medicine

The script opens with Kit Pogliano, Dean of UC San Diego's School of Biological Sciences, warmly welcoming the audience to the Deep public speaker series on Artificial Intelligence's role in health and medicine. The event follows a previous one on AI, and the speaker series is made possible by various partners including UCSD TV and the research Communications Program. The focus today is on AI's impact in operating rooms, critical care, homes, and the associated ethical and social implications. The dean introduces the first speaker, Dr. Christopher Longhurst, highlighting his roles as Chief Medical Officer and Chief Digital Officer at UC San Diego Health, and his contributions to medical care and digital innovation.

Dr. Christopher Longhurst discusses the integration of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare to improve patient safety and tackle ongoing challenges within the health system. He references the significant reduction in patient safety events achieved through AI implementation and the potential of AI to transform outcomes. Dr. Longhurst shares an anecdote about AI's instrumental role in early COVID-19 diagnosis and the broader impact of AI on clinical decision-making, as evidenced in a study showing a change in physician behavior due to AI insights. He underscores the importance of focusing on patient-centered outcomes and the gap between AI research and implementation.

The speaker delves into the specifics of using AI for sepsis prediction, a significant cause of mortality in the United States. He proudly mentions the development and implementation of a multimodal AI algorithm at UC San Diego Health, which has led to a nearly 20% reduction in mortality rates in emergency departments. This achievement is particularly notable as it represents one of the few publications demonstrating a tangible impact of AI on clinical outcomes. The speaker also addresses the broader challenges of translating AI research into practical applications and the importance of focusing on meaningful patient outcomes.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of ethical principles and transparency in the adoption of AI within healthcare. He discusses the AI principles adopted by UC San Diego Health, which are publicly available and are being updated to reflect national standards. The talk includes the successful integration of generative AI to support clinical communication, with a focus on keeping humans in the loop and maintaining transparency with patients. The speaker also highlights the potential of AI to reduce cognitive burdens on physicians and improve patient satisfaction.

The speaker discusses the paradox in healthcare AI where implemented algorithms are rarely researched and vice versa. The Jacob Center for Health Innovation at UC San Diego is dedicated to bridging this gap by implementing AI algorithms that impact patient care outcomes. The speaker also highlights the governance process to ensure algorithms are fair, valid, effective, and safe. The talk concludes with an introduction of the next speaker, Camille Nebeker, who will address ethical research practices and technology-supported health research.

Dr. Camille Nebeker discusses the challenges of ethical research practices in the emerging fields of digital health and AI. She highlights the importance of informed consent, risk assessment, and the responsible use of data, especially when dealing with diverse populations. Dr. Nebeker's team is working on making informed consent more accessible and is involved in initiatives to build ethically sourced data repositories. She emphasizes the need for inclusive data governance and the importance of considering ethical implications when using AI in healthcare.

Dr. Laurel Riek discusses her work in designing robots and AI technologies to support disabled individuals, their families, and the clinical workforce. She emphasizes the importance of a health equity and human-centered approach in technology development. The talk addresses the systemic and societal issues underlying care gaps and the shortage of care workers, and how technology like AI and robots can be a band-aid rather than a solution. Dr. Riek also shares insights from her lab's work with people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment to develop CARMEN, a robot designed to deliver cognitive training interventions.

Dr. Mark Schultzel, an orthopedic surgeon, discusses the impact of AI on hospital operations and surgical precision. He talks about the challenges faced by the healthcare system, such as staff shortages and increased patient care burdens, and how AI can help optimize hospital operations. Dr. Schultzel also discusses the potential of AI in improving surgical outcomes through predictive analytics and machine learning for implant positioning. He highlights the importance of reducing physician burnout and medical errors while improving patient care quality.

The panelists engage in a discussion about the role of AI in healthcare, addressing questions about explainability, transparency, and liability. They talk about the importance of educating patients and healthcare staff about AI and ensuring that AI implementations are ethical and respectful. The panel also discusses the potential for AI to improve patient care by reducing documentation time, increasing surgical precision, and optimizing hospital operations. They emphasize the need for evidence-based AI applications and the potential for AI to become the new standard of care in the future.