Wellbeing Software is working in partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) expert, Radiobotics, to accelerate the introduction of Musculoskeletal (MSK) AI radiology across NHS trusts.
In a single year (2018/2019), the NHS performed 43.5 million imaging tests in England; with the most-common being plain radiography (X-ray), which accounted for 22.7m files.
This high volume of diagnostic images is handled by a limited number of radiologists across the UK or is outsourced at a significant cost to the NHS. In 2018, outsourcing expenditure reached £165m.
Automating the analysis and reporting of low-risk, routine MSK X-rays using Radiobotics’ AI solution, therefore, helps free up time for radiologists, who are then able to evaluate more-complex and urgent cases.
The AI algorithms are designed to support evidence-based clinical decision making, lowering the rates of misdiagnosis and ensuring that patients receive faster results and treatment.
By enabling more-efficient diagnosis of these cases, they are freeing up radiologists for more-critical evaluations
For the trust, the solution could also deliver overall cost savings by reducing time per case and lowing outsourcing fees.
Radiobotics is the latest AI vendor to join Wellbeing’s AI Connect Marketplace, having chosen to integrate itstechnology through Wellbeing’s AI Connect gateway, which allows hospitals to embed their chosen algorithms into their radiology workflow, no matter what RIS or PACS they are running.
Chris Yeowart, director at Wellbeing Software, said: “While other AI vendors are focused on urgent clinical diagnosis, Radiobotics is offering a solution that addresses the growing number of low risk or routine MSK X-rays that come through A&E or GP referrals.
“By enabling more-efficient diagnosis of these cases, they are freeing up radiologists for more-critical evaluations.”