Dr. Artificial Intelligence

Science fiction TV shows, such as Star Trek, have long dallied with the idea of artificial intelligence acting as a medic. This idea may be nearing reality in Moscow, thanks to a new diagnostic system based on artificial intelligence. This new digital aide has already helped diagnose coronavirus patients and prescribe treatments.

The project is a joint venture between Moscow health clinics and Sberbank, which has experts who are used to dealing with big data. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin recently visited one of the clinics using this new technology. “During the pandemic, we never stopped work on key projects in the field of healthcare digitalization," Sobyanin said. "Moreover, some were even accelerated. For several months now, artificial intelligence has been used to detect COVID on CT scans. Doctors have the ability to enter data into an electronic card using their voice, which significantly speeds up the work… And what is very important: the new system was developed and tested with the doctors' direct participation.”

The artificial intelligence system was launched in June 2019 in 45 clinics in Moscow. It is based on the United Medical Information and Analytical System (EMIAS), which consists of a set of tools to help doctors make decisions about patient treatment, from collecting complaints to a diagnosis and even prescribing treatment.

After examining a patient, a doctor can enter information about symptoms or complaints into the system. Then the computer will process the information and provide three preliminary diagnoses. The digital assistant is ten times faster at providing a preliminary diagnosis (from 2 minutes 37 seconds down to 15 seconds). Currently, a patient questionnaire is being developed that can be filled out ahead of time. This will work with a “start examination” system, to help doctors focus on the right diagnosis, depending on the patient’s symptoms. This questionnaire should be ready in about a year.