Innovative Solutions to Improve Health and Patient Outcomes Featured at Inaugural AI in Healthcare Technology Showcase

At the inaugural AI in Healthcare Technology Showcase today, AI Singapore exhibited 16 AI projects that are set to improve healthcare processes and patient outcomes in Singapore. The event also featured demonstrable prototypes of the technologies from projects that highlight the potential impact AI can have on Singapore’s healthcare ecosystem.

Graced by Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung, this event underscored the nation’s ongoing effort to harness AI for healthcare and drive wider adoption of proven and impactful applications.

AI-powered healthcare solutions for a healthier Singapore

Since 2018, AI Singapore has funded several AI research projects that leverage AI technologies to improve healthcare processes and delivery. The 16 innovative projects focused on four areas: HealthierSG, Diagnostics & Screening, Healthcare Delivery, and Treatment & Patient Monitoring – reflecting an individual’s experience through the healthcare ecosystem, to appreciate how AI can impact them at every stage.

“AI Singapore has been at the forefront of supporting the development and adoption of AI technologies for healthcare,” said Professor Ho Teck Hua, Founding Executive Chairman of AI Singapore. “Our unwavering commitment to using AI as a force for good, advancing patient care and improving healthcare efficiency has culminated in the AI in Healthcare Technology Showcase. By showcasing these cutting-edge AI-powered solutions, we are strengthening Singapore’s leadership in AI for healthcare and look forward to fostering international partnerships to drive further advancements.”

One solution in the HealthierSG category is EMPOWER+. Leveraging AI algorithms to revolutionise chronic disease self-management, this mobile app provides personalised health coaching to poorly controlled diabetic patients, offering timely AI-powered notifications that deliver relevant nudges for healthier lifestyle choices. By equipping users with knowledge and support, EMPOWER+ fosters confidence in making behavioral changes essential for effective diabetes management.

In the realm of Diagnostics & Screening, RAPIER (Radiology Pathology Information Exchange Resource) harnesses AI algorithms to detect and describe lesion features within radiology and pathology images. This collaborative project between A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing (A*STAR IHPC), Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) aims to develop AI models and tools to assist doctors in evaluating radiology and pathology data. Under the first phase of RAPIER, A*STAR IHPC focuses on creating algorithms trained on prior medical images and reports from SGH and NCCS to detect liver abnormalities. Some modules of this technology are being piloted at SGH, with the aim of enhancing diagnostic speed, accuracy and reliability, contributing to improved patient care and timely interventions.

For Healthcare Delivery, Clinical ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) is transforming patient-doctor interactions with its automatic AI-based transcription capabilities. Utilising a real-time CPU-based speech-to-text system and novel training methods, Clinical ASR transcribes conversations during consult sessions while incorporating local clinical vocabulary. This technology has been deployed in various settings, such as Singapore Technologies’ implementation of Clinical ASR’s trilingual speech-to-text engine that supports English, Chinese and Malay at the Singapore Civil Defence Force HQ Ops Centre since January 2023. Clinical ASR’s speech technology has also been deployed at SingHealth Polyclinic since April 2023 to support secure clinical interview transcriptions. By streamlining documentation, this technology allows healthcare providers to focus more on patient care rather than administrative tasks, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of healthcare delivery.

For Treatment & Patient Monitoring, we have PERDICT.AI (Personalised Diabetes Counselling Tool using AI), which is an evidence-based personalised integrated solution for primary care to support clinical management of diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol patients to improve disease outcomes. By offering personalised, evidence-based guidance, PERDICT.AI has the potential to enhance risk communication which will empower patients to better manage their conditions, thereby achieving better health outcomes.

Accelerating AI innovation in healthcare is a collaborative effort

Beyond showcasing advancements in AI-powered healthcare solutions, the event is also a catalyst for collaboration and innovation. By bringing together researchers, doctors, and industry experts, AI Singapore is creating an environment where cutting-edge research could be turned into viable commercial products that improve healthcare for Singaporeans.

“AI has the potential to transform healthcare in Singapore. To harness this potential, we must foster international and local partnerships among medical professionals, researchers, and industry leaders. By working together, we can rapidly translate groundbreaking AI technology into tangible improvements for patients and our healthcare system.” said Professor Ho.

More information on the 16 innovative projects funded by AI Singapore can be found here