New AI software at the Mater has aided in the assessment of more than 15,000 patient scans, rapidly notifying radiologists of suspected pathologies and reducing the time it takes to initiate life-saving treatments
The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital has become the first hospital in Ireland to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its Radiology Department. This has resulted in rapid notification of suspected pathologies, enhanced patient care and is freeing up valuable time for staff in the Department.
Since the introduction of the AI-assisted software this year, more than 15,600 patient scans have been analysed. Over 700 pathologies were correctly flagged by AI within 2-3 minutes of the scan being completed, with 500 intracranial haemorrhages and 200 pulmonary emboli being identified.
On out-patient scans, 50 pulmonary emboli were also flagged where the scans were being performed to assess other medical conditions. The overall accuracy of the software in real Irish clinical practice has been deemed to be highly sensitive and specific, with an accuracy rate of more than 90%.
The Mater Hospital has implemented four new technologies, including AI assistance on: CT pulmonary angiograms, incidental pulmonary embolism notification on CT scans, intracranial haemorrhage detection on CT head scans and cervical spine fracture detection on CT C-Spine scans.
The screening platform, made by Aidoc, operates on an ‘always-on’ basis, meaning it is constantly running in the background in order to analyse medical imaging data, flag urgent findings, and highlight cases that should be prioritised and brought to the immediate attention of consultants. The use of the software in Radiology at the Mater has significantly reduced report turnaround times, while also improving diagnostic accuracy and streamlining workflows.
Mater Hospital Consultant Radiologist Professor Peter MacMahon said: “Our experiences have underscored the tangible benefits of AI, notably in expediting critical diagnoses and reducing turnaround times by rapidly flagging anomalies detected in scans. This allows Radiologists to prioritise the reading of these results and verify their accuracy before deciding upon a further course of action.”
The software underwent rigorous scrutiny, verification and testing at the Mater Hospital during a trial phase from April until August before the technology was fully deployed across the Radiology Department. The software is used to augment rather than replace the capabilities of radiologists at the hospital, ensuring that human scrutiny, verification and expertise is still at the centre of reading the scans.
Alan Sharp, CEO of the Mater Hospital, said: “The introduction of AI tools at the Mater’s Radiology Department demonstrates the strong emphasis we place on innovation and development. The integration of AI at the Mater serves to enhance patient outcomes and add efficiencies which ensure our patients receive the best standard of care we can possibly offer. The Mater strives to be a national leader in deploying cutting-edge technological innovations such as Artificial Intelligence in healthcare.”
Mike Burns, Director of Sales for Aidoc in the UK and Ireland, commented on the partnership, saying, “We are proud to collaborate with The Mater Hospital, a healthcare institution known for its dedication to patient care and innovation. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to improving healthcare delivery and impacting patient outcomes in Ireland.”
Early next year, the Mater plans to trial specialised AI tools within the Aidoc platform, focusing on the analysis of bone and chest X-rays in the Emergency Department. These tools, designed to promptly flag pathologies and accelerate patient triage, are set to further enhance the Mater’s diagnostic capabilities and reduce waiting times for patients, while freeing up valuable time for frontline healthcare staff.
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