Hospital Management

Daily Newsletter

09 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health) in the US is collaborating with Andor Health, a company leveraging open AI and healthcare-trained ChatGPT models, to implement a decentralised care delivery model.

Through this alliance, MUSC Health aims to create a next-generation virtual care ecosystem with ThinkAndor's Virtual Command Center.

Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), Andor Health's ThinkAndor technology is said to be used to orchestrate collaboration among care teams.

This platform provides a comprehensive suite of virtual health services, including virtual visits, hospital services, patient monitoring, team collaboration, and community engagement.

MUSC Health CEO Patrick Cawley said: “By using telehealth wherever and whenever possible, MUSC Health can continue to expand care access in underserved areas of the state while increasing the physical presence of new specialities customised for communities’ needs.”

By adopting this approach, MUSC Health intends to transition from a standardised care model to a decentralised one, thereby expanding accessibility and bringing specialised care to underserved areas across the state.

Leveraging AI, the partnership is expected to reduce clinician burnout, and offer improved outcomes in healthcare delivery.

Andor Health chairman and CEO Raj Toleti said: “To effectively deliver care, health systems must pivot away from traditional care delivery and shift towards new models of care.

“By implementing ThinkAndor Virtual Hospital, health systems can leverage AI to support next-generation care capabilities including virtual nursing, virtual sitting, and on-demand speciality consultations at scale.”

Healthcare companies are hesitant to invest in the metaverse

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the healthcare industry to rapid digitalization. Increased use of telehealth, telepresence systems, remote diagnostics, predictive AI, and wearable technology is changing how healthcare is delivered and improving patient outcomes. Emerging technologies such as AR and VR are becoming increasingly routine for professional training, surgical assistance, and treatment of psychological and neurological disorders. In the pharma and medical devices industries, AR, VR, and AI are rapidly accelerating drug discovery and manufacturing and generating supply chain efficiencies. New digital opportunities will look to build upon disruptive technologies. However, affordability is a limiting factor to widespread adoption. Per GlobalData estimates, the metaverse market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 33% between 2023 and 2030. Although metaverse technologies could reinvent healthcare approaches and bring new experiences to healthcare providers and patients, adoption is still at an early stage. There are currently few use cases in the healthcare industry. The metaverse needs to overcome major challenges for healthcare, including regulation and data privacy concerns. Evidence of proven use cases and participation by a critical mass of users are imperative to drive a shift in metaverse investment.