Author: Daniel Onyango

The shortage of healthcare professionals is a global challenge that not only lowers the quality of care but also results in many errors, as well as high morbidity and mortality of patients admitted into healthcare facilities. However, rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies have shown promising results in plugging the long-standing problem of healthcare staff shortage, improving workflow efficiency, and patient outcomes. Dozee, an India-based health tech company, is one such company revolutionizing healthcare delivery using state-of-the-art technology to bridge the existing structural gaps in the country’s healthcare system. Co-founded in 2015 by Mudit Dandwate and…

Artificial intelligence (AI) could soon help doctors reduce the number of broken bones missed during the analysis of medical images taken by X-rays, improving accuracy and patient treatment outcomes. According to a BBC news report, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said that the new AI-driven tool is safe and has the potential to accelerate the diagnosis process, saving clinicians more time and minimizing the need for follow-up check-ups. With efficiency, accuracy, and productivity being priorities for healthcare providers, the use of AI tools to spot broken bones could be a game changer in medical imaging. This would…

A recent study shows that artificial intelligence blood tests could help in the early detection of ovarian cancer by identifying cancer-related biomarkers and genetic changes. According to a study published by researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, in collaboration with researchers from Europe and the United States, the AI blood test could help screen patients for early signs of ovarian cancer, raising more hope in helping reduce the mortality rate associated with this type of cancer. While often under-recognized, ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women, killing over 12,000 women in the United States…

Japan-based health technology startup Ubie Inc. has secured significant funding from Google to transform the country’s healthcare using generative AI alongside other innovative healthcare technologies. Co-founded in 2017 by Kota Kubo, and Yoshinori Abe MD, Ubie Inc. has developed a health technology platform providing SaaS products for healthcare organizations and AI-driven disease prediction for consumers. Google’s financial backing will help boost Ubie’s impact on improving healthcare efficiency and accessibility throughout Japan and beyond, in line with its mission of using its technology to guide people to appropriate care. AI-powered Healthcare Solutions Since its founding in 2017, the company has developed a wide…

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have discovered a more accurate method of identifying patients’ obesity risk using artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing an alternative to the long-used body mass index (BMI), Unlike BMI, which majorly relies on calculations using a person’s weight and height, the new AI tool can predict a person’s waistline by analyzing their age, weight, height, ethnicity, and level of education with remarkable accuracy, ushering in a new era of obesity risk determination by doctors. With this tool, clinicians can now predict patients’ risk of obesity-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other diseases usually…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is steadily creeping into every aspect of the economy and human life. From Industries to healthcare, the new-era technology promises a world of virtually limitless possibilities, with AI co-pilot and AI chatbots being widely implemented. While this technology is critical in healthcare workflow automation and efficiency, researchers have warned patients against relying on AI-powered chatbots and search engines for accurate and safe information about drugs. According to research findings published in the journal BMJ Quality & Safety on October 11, 2024, large language models can inadvertently generate wrong or potentially harmful responses to patient queries, putting chatbot…

Echo IQ, the developer of  AI-driven medical software to support the diagnosis of heart structural illnesses, has been awarded 510(k) clearance by the US FDA for its EchoSolv software, which aims to help in early diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis. The company’s software technology has been designed to help clinicians automate the process of identifying aortic stenosis based on AI-powered phenotype analysis and clinical practice guidelines, with an effectiveness of up to 97%. Eco IQ received the approval following an application it made in May 2024. The company’s AI-powered diagnostic software could help in the early detection of aortic stenosis,…

Traveling abroad comes with its share of challenges, especially when one becomes sick during the journey. The language barrier and geographical location differences could greatly impact one’s convenience in accessing healthcare, making the situation even more concerning. Since insurance companies may not be able to cover their costs while abroad, and finding a hospital with healthcare professionals speaking their native languages may almost not be guaranteed, many people find themselves in unfamiliar healthcare facilities resulting in high healthcare costs and stress. However, these challenges could soon be left for history as technological innovations make healthcare more accessible regardless of where…

The dental industry has long used amalgam fillings despite health concerns due to lack of better alternatives. However, that is set to change in the following a new federal funding for the development of new-age fillings. On Monday, a US-based dental institute, ADA Forsyth Institute (AFI), announced that it had secured $6.2 million in federal financing to develop new-generation applications for dental filling. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) awarded the funds to help the institution advance the development of smart dental restoration materials for the next five years. Under the project, AFI will create advanced dental…

A US-based non-profit organization, Neuromatch, has joined Wellcome, a global charity foundation in building a global community to help advance solutions focusing on mental health and artificial intelligence. The newly developed global community, MEXA, supports using science to solve global challenges in healthcare and ensure a healthier future for everyone. MEXA will also support Wellcome’s ongoing work in the field of mental healthcare, specifically focusing on early detection and intervention for depression, anxiety, and Psychosis. The online community also allows people with diverse professional backgrounds and skills to collaborate on research covering areas at the intersection of mental health and…

California-based health technology startup Claimable, has launched the world’s first AI-driven Appeals platform to help patients combat unjust healthcare claims denials, the company announced in a press release. Founded in 2009 by Miles Tinsley, the company’s platform uses AI to analyze patients’ appeals data, policy details, clinical research as well as patients’ unique medical profile to generate customized appeals within minutes. According to Warris Bokhari, MD, CEO and Co-Founder of Claimable, the platform leverages AI’s benefits to amplify patients’ voices in a system that often excludes them by ensuring patients get the treatment they are owed. Revolutionizing Healthcare Denial Appeals…

A global leader in diabetic care, Ascensia Diabetes Care, has launched the world’s first FDA-approved continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system in the United States to improve glucose level management for people living with type 1 and 2 diabetes. Known as Eversense® 365, the CGM system is the first and only device available that provides continuous year-round glucose monitoring using just a single sensor. Eversense provides users with real-time glucose monitoring through a tiny sensor implanted under the skin of their upper arm and a transmitter positioned on the arm, just above the sensor. The transmitter feeds data directly into the…

California-based provider of workforce mental health solutions for health plans and employers, Lyra Health, has extended its services to support individuals struggling to overcome stimulants, nicotine, cannabis, and opioid addiction. Building on the company’s Lyra Renew for alcohol use disorder success, the expanded program will allow all members from across the United States access to science-backed therapies for a myriad of substance use disorders (SUD). According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), substance use disorder has impacted over 23 million employees across the United States. Affected individuals and their families face significant challenges in finding adequate…

BEN, a supplier of consumer engagement AI technology, has contracted IntelliTek Health, a SmarTek21 subsidiary specializing in developing patient-centered virtual assistants, to expand access to its AI technologies for healthcare organizations in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and India. According to Paul Chang, CEO of BEN, and Martyn Molnar, CEO of Intellitek Products, their companies’ innovative technology aims to enhance access to care, patients’ experience, and care outcomes. This can help boost healthcare professionals’ productivity through an end-to-end suite of technology solutions offering round-the-clock support. The agreement will enable BEN and IntelliTek to provide a full suite of…

GE Healthcare has been granted FDA’s 510(k) authorization for its Centiloid scale tool designed to help clinicians diagnose Alzheimer’s disease based on the density of amyloid plaque in a patient’s brain from PET scans. Amyloid is a special type of protein often clumped up into toxic plaques in the brain in cases of Alzheimer’s, resulting in symptoms such as memory loss, according to scientists. PET radiotracers help clinicians visualize amyloid plaque density and assess people with symptoms of impairments for Alzheimer’s. The tool can also help monitor the treatment response of patients with Alzheimer’s. Led by Philip Rackliffe, Kevin O’Neill, Peter…

Avo, a New York-based digital clinician support platform provider,  has launched the first-of-its-kind AI-powered consult tool designed to integrate seamlessly into Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems. The AI Consult tool, Ask Avo, provides clinicians with real-time recommendations, helping them to complete daily tasks faster by leveraging a wide range of patient data from evidence-based guidelines and Nationwide Health Information Exchanges. Co-founded by Dr. Joongheum Park and Yair Saperstein, Avo focuses on building medical technology tools to help healthcare professionals accomplish their daily tasks effectively. According to Avo founders, Ask Avo features an easy-to-deploy model and easy EHR integration and focuses…

Scientists at Klick Labs have unveiled a new innovative technique for testing for hypertension using machine learning-enable speech acoustic analysis. The research findings, published in the journal IEEE Access, hold great potential for a more advanced and accurate early detection of the chronic condition, which the World Health Organization (WHO) terms a “silent killer.” Although chronic high blood pressure can be life-threatening, early diagnosis can result in timely behavioral intervention, preventing the condition from worsening to becoming fatal. High blood pressure is widely measured using sphygmomanometry, which requires technical expertise and may not be readily available in remote and underserved areas. While automatic…

A leading provider of virtual care platform, AvaSure, has partnered with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to build a virtual concierge solution with NVIDIA full-stack AI technology to streamline clinical workflow and improve patient care outcomes in healthcare systems and hospitals. The high-tech virtual concierge will leverage Oracle’s AI offerings (including OCI compute), AvaSure’s Intelligent Virtual Care Platform, and NVIDIA’s powerful technology infrastructure to provide a seamless AI-powered bedside experience, enabling smart rooms to operate efficiently. With the persistent staffing shortages in the healthcare sector, increasing patients’ needs, and rising costs, this powerful virtual platform will enable healthcare organizations to integrate AI-powered…

With the rapid advancement and expansion of mobile health technologies, securing sensitive health information and data is increasingly becoming urgent as health organizations digitize their healthcare service delivery and patient information management through mobile devices. This makes mobile health platforms prime targets for data breaches and other cybersecurity threats.  Recognizing the critical role played by mobile applications in the healthcare sector, AI and mobile app expert from Yeshiva University, Dr. Honggang Wang, has come up with a project to bridge the gap in mobile health research and cybersecurity education. Dr. Wang’s “Augmenting Cybersecurity Education in Mobile Health (mHealth) Through Curriculum…

Researchers at Yıldız Technical University (YTU) have unveiled an innovative health monitoring system leveraging the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence to offer monitoring and near real-time analysis of athlete’s health to avoid injury during performance. According to a news report by Hurriyet Daily News, the system uses special hardware and software designed to analyze athletes’ health and performance as soon as they appear on camera. Hüseyin Üvet, researcher team leader and lecturer at the institution’s Mechatronic Engineering Department, stated that the AI-driven system can help identify potential risks early, ensuring athletes train healthily. Key Features of the Health Monitoring…