Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has deployed artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to support quicker radiology reporting.
The trust has partnered with Behold.ai, a radiology AI specialist, to implement its red dot prioritisation platform.
The red dot AI algorithm separates radiology studies into normal and abnormal categories, alerting radiographers to urgent findings at the point of acquisition and helping clinicians to prioritise workloads and reduce reporting backlogs.
The Behold.ai algorithms have been developed using more than 30,000 example images, all of which have been reviewed and reported by highly-experienced consultant radiology clinicians in order to shape accurate decision-making.
The red dot prioritisation platform employed at Dartford is capable of sorting images into normal and abnormal categories in less than 30 seconds post image acquisition.
This means that the radiology team know, before the patient leaves the radiology department, whether their examination is normal, or whether there is an abnormality present - an instant triage.
Behold.ai’s AI technology is specifically designed to support our skilled radiology workforce by understanding and supporting their existing workflows and enabling them to manage reporting more efficiently
This is valuable information for the radiologists, clinicians around the trust, and, ultimately, the patient.
Neil Perry, associate sirector of digital transformation at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, said: “Radiology departments play a crucial role in our healthcare network and the ability to report and diagnose as quickly and accurately as possible has a major impact on patient outcomes.
“Behold.ai’s AI technology is specifically designed to support our skilled radiology workforce by understanding and supporting their existing workflows and enabling them to manage reporting more efficiently. It also allows us to work with our existing radiology technology, which further demonstrates its ability to support our existing working processes.”
Simon Rasalingham, chief executive and chairman of Behold.ai, added: “Our algorithms have been developed by highly-trained and experienced consultant radiologists who have continually reviewed, annotated and reported on patient images to help train the algorithm correctly.
The implementation at Dartford is a great opportunity to showcase the practical application of AI technology in the healthcare sector and demonstrates how it can be used to deliver improved patient care
“This means we are able to replicate the real-life work of a radiologist via our red dot algorithm, with the aim of ensuring exceptional real-world clinical accuracy.
“This is the key difference, we believe, in the performance of AI. Our solution seamlessly integrates into local trust workflows augmenting clinical practice and delivering state-of-the-art, safe Artificial Intelligence.
“The implementation at Dartford is a great opportunity to showcase the practical application of AI technology in the healthcare sector and demonstrates how it can be used to deliver improved patient care.”