“Chatbot” Tool Helps Improve Delivery of Care

A team of hospitalists, radiation oncologists, and interventional radiologists at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) is testing an artificial intelligence prototype that acts as a virtual consultant, providing timely, evidence-based interventional radiology advice to referring health care providers, according to research presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s annual scientific meeting

“I believe this application will have phenomenal potential to change how physicians interact with each other to provide more efficient care,” said John Hegde, MD, resident physician in radiation oncology at UCLA. “A key point for me is that I think it will eventually be the most seamless way to share medical information. Although it feels as easy as chatting with a friend via text message, it is a really powerful tool for quickly obtaining the data you need to make better-informed decisions.”

The machine learning application uses deep learning technology to respond to questions in a conversational manner, much like an online customer service chat. Inspired by the workings of the human brain, deep learning uses networks of artificial neurons to analyze large datasets,  identify patterns, and “learn,” the presenters explained.

“Patient care team members get faster, more convenient access to evidence-based information; interventional radiologists spend less time on the phone and more time caring for their patients; and, most importantly, patients have better-informed providers able to deliver higher-quality care,” said Kevin Seals, MD, resident physician in radiology at UCLA.

Researchers fed the application more than 2000 example data points that simulated inquiries an interventional radiologist may hear during a consultation to develop the tool’s foundation of knowledge. 

The tool provides instant responses, which can take the form of information, websites, infographics, or—when the application determines the answers requires a human response—contact information for an interventional radiologist. The tool learns from each use and becomes smarter and more powerful over time.

“Because artificial intelligence has already begun transforming many industries, it has great potential to also transform health care,” said Edward W Lee, MD, PhD, assistant professor of radiology at UCLA. —Jolynn Tumolo