An innovation to simplify access to health data
The healthcare field is full of valuable information, but it can be difficult for doctors to find because it is often stored in different systems and formats. Google Cloud has developed a new search solution that allows doctors to extract information from clinical notes, scanned documents and electronic medical records, making it accessible in one place. This innovation, led by Lisa O’Malley, Senior Director of Product Management for Cloud AI at Google Cloud, aims to save healthcare professionals time, make it easier for them to access answers, and avoid frustration.
The technology developed is capable of citing and linking the original source of information retrieved directly from an organization’s internal data. It can also be used for other critical applications, such as applying appropriate billing codes or determining patient eligibility for clinical trials.
Integration within the Vertex AI Search platform
These new features will be offered to healthcare and life sciences organizations through Google’s Vertex AI Search platform. This platform is already used by companies in other industries to search public websites, documents and other databases. Aashima Gupta, global director of healthcare strategy and solutions at Google Cloud, points out that these new capabilities can be integrated directly into clinicians’ workflow, which is particularly important for healthcare customers.
Adoption and initial feedback from healthcare organizations
Historically, the healthcare industry has been reluctant to adopt new technologies, and this adoption can be even more difficult if the proposed solutions are distracting or difficult for healthcare professionals to use. Interested organizations can sign up for early access to Vertex AI Search for healthcare and life sciences starting Monday, but Google Cloud is already testing the capabilities of this innovation with organizations such as Mayo Clinic, Hackensack Meridian Health and Highmark Health.
- Mayo Clinic: At this time, this facility is not yet using the new Vertex AI research tools in clinical care, according to Cris Ross, Mayo Clinic’s chief information officer. He specifies that the first use cases focus on administrative aspects.
- Hackensack Meridian Health and Highmark Health: Richard Clarke, director of analytics at Highmark Health, reports a “phenomenal” initial response to research tools within the organization. More than 200 use case ideas have already been identified.
Respect for confidentiality and legislation
Google Cloud does not view customer data or use it to train models. The company says its new service is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant. Aashima Gupta points out that interacting with the healthcare system can seem fragmented and difficult for patients, and she is excited about the prospect of seeing how doctors will be able to use Google’s new tools to get a more complete picture.
Future potential for researchers and clinicians
In the future, Mayo Clinic wants to explore how Vertex AI Search tools could help nurses summarize lengthy surgical notes, sort through patients’ complex medical histories, and easily answer questions like “what is the smoking status of this patient? Google’s efforts to develop this technology will undoubtedly accelerate and improve healthcare professionals’ journeys, while reducing costs.
A mutual benefit for all stakeholders in the health field
In conclusion, Lisa O’Malley highlights that all Google can do by applying its search, health and healthcare technologies, to smooth the journey for clinicians, healthcare providers and payers in a faster way , more efficient and saving them costs, ultimately benefits everyone as patients.