Yon Hardisty

October 2024

Issue #6: Navigating AI in Healthcare

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Picture this: Remember when we thought flying cars would come before AI could spot cancer? Well, here we are – and while our cars are still firmly on the ground, AI in healthcare is soaring to incredible heights. Every day, these smart systems are pulling off what feels like magic in hospitals and clinics across America. They're catching things in X-rays that even veteran doctors might miss, predicting how patients will respond to treatments (with scary accuracy!), and tackling mountains of paperwork faster than any coffee-fueled admin team.

But this isn't just another tech trend – we're watching healthcare transform before our eyes. Imagine having a brilliant assistant who never sleeps, never gets tired, and can instantly recall every medical journal ever published. That's what AI brings to the table. It's analyzing medical images in the blink of an eye, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with surgeons in operating rooms (metaphorically speaking, of course), and even playing matchmaker between patients and their perfect treatment plans based on their unique genetic makeup.

Sure, it sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but this is our new reality. As healthcare faces challenges like doctor shortages and accessibility issues, AI is stepping up to the plate. We're not just talking about making healthcare better – we're talking about making it smarter, faster, and available to more people than ever before. Buckle up, because this revolution in healthcare isn't slowing down anytime soon.

The Ethical Elephant

Let's talk about the elephant in the AI exam room – the ethical side of this healthcare revolution. Trust me, it's not just about robots with stethoscopes; we're diving into some seriously important territory here.

Think about it: your medical history is probably more personal than your diary (and definitely more detailed than your browser history). When AI systems gobble up all this sensitive info, we've got to make sure it's locked down tighter than a drum. It's like having the world's most thorough medical assistant who also needs to be the world's best secret-keeper.

Here's where things get really interesting – and a bit tricky. These AI systems are only as unbiased as the data we feed them, and let's be honest, healthcare hasn't always been an equal playing field. We need to make sure our smart new tools don't accidentally play favorites or miss important signs in certain communities. After all, good healthcare should be like a great party – everyone's invited!

And let's talk about those "black box" AI systems. You wouldn't trust a doctor who just says "trust me" without explaining their diagnosis, right? Same goes for AI. We need these systems to show their work, like we all had to do in math class. After all, these systems sometimes hypothesis the wrong solution. And being confidently wrong is still, well...wrong.

Then there's the whole "who's in charge?" question. Sure, AI can spot patterns faster than a caffeine-powered medical resident, but we don't want our healthcare pros getting rusty or overly dependent on digital second opinions. It's about finding that sweet spot – like having a really smart assistant who helps you make better decisions, not a boss who makes them for you.

The big picture? We're writing the rulebook for a healthcare revolution in real-time. We need to make sure this AI upgrade in healthcare helps everyone, not just those who already have the best access to medical care. It's like building a new highway system – we need to make sure there are on-ramps from every neighborhood. And for this reason, Healthtek is creating an "air gap" between patient data and healthcare systems in a very creative way. We're actually creating avatars to carefully separate the human from the tokenized system ultimately protecting patient data from an inadvertent bi-directional synchronization process. This ensures TRUE HIPAA compliance and takes security to an all new level preventing the AI to inaccurately make incorrect assumptions or poor ethical decisions on it's own.

Bottom line: we're not just teaching machines to be smart; we're teaching them to be ethical, fair, and trustworthy. Because at the end of the day, healthcare is about helping real people with real lives, and that's something we can't afford to get wrong.

Happy reading,

Yon Hardisty

In this issue:

Upcoming Webinar: Preventing Suicide One Click at a Time The Health Risks of AI Hallucinations Don't Miss! Wellbeing Wednesday Food and Stress: What We Eat Can Impact Our Health Why The Wellness Challenges App Makes Sense Today

Upcoming Webinar Preventing Suicide One Click at a Time.

Suicide is a serious problem that touches many lives. Did you know it's the second biggest cause of death for people aged 15-29? Shockingly, someone dies by suicide every 40 seconds. Join Kaitlin Daeges and PT (Paul Thomas) for an interesting look at LivinConnected and solutions working in market today.

Join us on October 29th, at 9:30 AM PST.

The Healthcare Risks of AI

Hallucinations

Let's dive into the fascinating (and sometimes head-scratching) world of AI hallucinations in healthcare. Buckle up, because this is where things get both exciting and a little bit weird.

When we talk about AI hallucinations in healthcare, we're not talking about robots having fever dreams or digital doctors seeing imaginary patients. Nope, it's a bit more subtle – and potentially more impactful – than that.

In essence, AI hallucinations are when our super-smart AI systems confidently serve up information that's just... well, wrong. It's like that friend who always thinks they know everything but sometimes mixes up their facts. Except in this case, that "friend" might be helping diagnose illnesses or plan treatments.

Here's the deal: AI models, especially large language models, are trained on massive amounts of data. They're great at recognizing patterns and generating human-like responses. But sometimes, they can make connections that aren't really there or "fill in the blanks" with information that sounds plausible but isn't actually true.

What Are Technology Companies Doing to Prevent Hallucinations and What Does It Mean?

In healthcare, this could mean:

1. Imaginary Symptoms: An AI might list symptoms for a condition that don't actually exist, potentially leading to confusion in diagnosis.
2. Phantom Treatments: It might confidently recommend treatments or medications that aren't real or aren't appropriate for the condition.
3. False Confidence: AI might present incorrect information with the same level of certainty as factual data, making it hard to spot the error.
4. Data Fabrication: In some cases, AI might generate fake patient data or medical histories that seem realistic but are entirely made up.
5. Misinterpreted Images: In medical imaging, AI might "see" abnormalities that aren't actually there, or miss real issues.

Now, before we all start panicking and swearing off technology forever, remember: these hallucinations are a known issue that researchers and developers are actively working to address. It's like any new technology – we discover the quirks and then figure out how to iron them out. At Healthtek, we're at the forefront of understanding these risks and are taking steps to help prevent this from occurring in our technology solutions such as ​Rivara​.

Human Intervention is Here to Stay

The key is understanding that while AI can be an incredibly powerful tool in healthcare, it's not infallible. That's why the human touch – the expertise of trained healthcare professionals – remains crucial. We're aiming for a future where AI enhances and supports human decision-making, not replaces it entirely. Doctors aren't relying on this technology 100% yet but instead using the information as one opinion.

So, what's the takeaway? AI in healthcare is like having a brilliant intern with occasional flights of fancy. It can provide valuable insights and efficiency, but it always needs the oversight of experienced professionals who can say, "Hang on, that doesn't sound quite right."

As we move forward, the challenge (and the excitement) lies in harnessing the power of AI while developing robust systems to catch and correct these "hallucinations" before they impact patient care. It's a balancing act of innovation and caution, pushing boundaries while keeping our feet firmly planted in reality.

Learn About Rivara AI →

Don't Miss!

Wellbeing Wednesday

Where Facebook or Zoom When Wednesday, Oct. 30th at 4 PM PST Connect Online (Zoom) With Counselor Bev

Join us at 4:00 P.M. PST for a Wellbeing Wednesday, where we help individuals cultivate mindfulness, relaxation, and focus. It's free to join, and we encourage everyone to offer this opportunity to your clients.

Join Us →

Food and Stress:

How what we eat can impact our health

In our fast-paced, modern world, stress has become a ubiquitous part of daily life. From demanding work schedules to personal challenges, stress can arise from a multitude of sources. While many factors contribute to stress management, one often overlooked aspect is our diet. The foods we consume play a significant role in influencing our stress levels, impacting both our physical and mental well-being. This article delves into how certain foods can either exacerbate or alleviate stress, providing insights into dietary choices that can help manage stress effectively.

Read More →

Why The Wellness Challenges App

Makes Sense Today

As summer wraps up and the fall colors begin, The Healthtek Wellness Challenges App is rolling out very soon. It's likely a good time to provide your populations with a new solution that keeps them moving and offers a wide variety of challenges that can improve their lifestyle and mental health.

We'll be able to stand up a new Wellness Challenges App in less than a day with your branding, logo, background imagery, challenge tiles, and more. This will increase engagement and satisfaction of your services.

Reach Out

Don't hesitate to reach out to a Healthtek representative to see if the Wellness Challenges App is something that you may be interested in.

Thanks for being a loyal customer.