Building smart healthcare: Major hospitals promote digital transformation

Two major hospitals of the Ministry of Health, Bach Mai Hospital and Cho Ray Hospital, have built smart hospitals.

Using AI to detect cancer early

With data from 2 million patients each year on diagnostic imaging, testing and pathology, Bach Mai Hospital ( Hanoi ) has "trained" artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnosing and treating many diseases, including early detection of cancer.

Every year, Bach Mai Hospital has about 2 million diagnostic data, which is the strength of Big Data, an advantage in AI application.

PHOTO: NGUYEN HA

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, the Hospital's Hepatobiliary Gastroenterology Center is testing AI technology on gastrointestinal endoscopy (colon). According to Mr. Co, gastrointestinal endoscopy is one of the important techniques in detecting and treating digestive diseases, such as ulcers, polyps and especially cancer. However, even experienced doctors may have difficulty identifying small or hidden lesions. But AI has the ability to quickly analyze images, supporting doctors in assessing abnormal signals, helping to increase the rate of early cancer detection and reduce the risk of missing.

The results of the trial showed that AI increased the detection rate of colon polyps, helping to reduce the risk of missing precancerous lesions. AI recognized polyps, thereby alerting doctors to suspicious areas. AI helped classify and evaluate the properties of polyps, determining whether they were benign or malignant, thereby helping to decide whether they needed to be removed or not. AI increased the detection rate of colon polyps by about 14% compared to conventional endoscopy.

"AI diagnoses early with digestive endoscopy and pathology. Digestive cancer is detected when the tumor is only in the mucosa, just cutting the mucosa is enough to cure the disease. Cancer patients do not need major surgery, no chemotherapy, less expensive and very rarely relapse", Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co said and affirmed: AI is bringing about major changes in the detection and management of digestive diseases, especially in the field of endoscopy. AI systems not only improve the rate of early detection of polyps and cancer but also help reduce human errors and improve the quality of medical services.

With the application of AI in early diagnosis of lung cancer, data from chest CT scans and bronchoscopy plus pathology results, the hospital has detected lung cancer early when the malignant tumor is small, only 2 - 3 mm, helping patients only have surgery to remove it, avoiding complicated treatment. Because if detected late, lung cancer after surgery must be treated with radiation, chemotherapy, and prolonged treatment.

Sharing more, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Giap, said that at the hospital's Respiratory Center, in 2024 - 2026, AI applications will be deployed in the diagnosis of bronchoscopy images of respiratory diseases; diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome.

The Hospital's Endocrinology Department has piloted AI applications in diagnosing endocrine diseases (thyroid disease, pituitary disease, diabetic retinopathy, ulcer recognition in diabetes, etc.). AI applications are being applied in models predicting the risk of hospitalization in endocrine patients and in respiratory function testing.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Giap, the application of AI and Big Data in treatment is the strength of Bach Mai Hospital. Every year, Bach Mai Hospital has 2 million outpatient visits, 200,000 - 250,000 inpatient visits, equivalent to 2 million records. Each patient has data on diagnostic imaging and testing, which is a rich source of data for training AI, as well as a huge source of "material" for AI data. This data source helps diagnose and contributes significantly to predicting disease trends.

According to the leaders of Bach Mai Hospital, to achieve the development goal of making this hospital a leading specialized general hospital in Vietnam and the region, the hospital has proposed 6 pillars: effectively implementing the multi-organ transplant project; applying AI in diagnosis, treatment and patient management; applying gene therapy techniques in treatment; applying stem cell technology in treatment; applying robotic surgery; applying 3D printing technology in manufacturing medical products and equipment to serve patients.

Postoperative monitoring software

Also a Central Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) has applied many technologies, AI applications in medical examination and treatment, and hospital management. In 2023, the hospital deployed software to evaluate and monitor the early recovery care after surgery (ERAS) program. This is a product designed and built by Cho Ray Hospital, drawing on many valuable medical documents at home and abroad as well as the practical experience of the hospital with a history of formation and development of 125 years. The software was granted a copyright certificate by the Copyright Office (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 2024. This is also a product participating in the 5th Vietnam Medical Achievement Awards.

Cho Ray Hospital applies software in medical examination, treatment and patient management

PHOTO: HANH NGUYEN

Mr. Dang Hoang Vu, Head of Quality Management Department of Cho Ray Hospital, informed that from August 2023 to October 2024, 2,750 surgical patients participated in the ERAS program. Monitoring and management results showed that the rate of patients receiving multimodal pain relief was 97%, the rate of patients with severe pain and severe pain after surgery was 0.9%. The rate of patients with complications during surgery was 0%. And after applying the ERAS program, the patient satisfaction rate was over 91% (compared to 81.2% before).

Thanks to this software application, the hospital has saved time, human resources, effort and stationery when assessing patients throughout the process before, during and after surgery. For medical staff, ERAS is convenient for assessing and monitoring patients; ensuring that patients are screened and fully assessed for ERAS components, and that the treatment and care process is fully implemented before, during and after surgery. The software helps to conveniently view the list of patients participating in ERAS by specialty or by time. As for patients after discharge, returning to the hospital for a follow-up visit, their health status is monitored and assessed thanks to the above software.

For managers, this software greatly supports the work of synthesis and statistics, saves human resources for statistics, saves time and ensures accurate data. With large data sources, the software can meet the needs of storing and strictly managing data sources, ensuring safety in storing and extracting data easily. Managers can directly monitor data on the software's reporting function, promptly correct and issue policies.

"The software application for the ERAS program at Cho Ray Hospital has greatly supported medical staff. Because this is a tool to monitor, supervise, analyze, report, and strictly manage compliance with the program, creating convenience for staff when implementing the ERAS program, while also aiming at the benefit of patients," said the leader of Cho Ray Hospital. (continued)

On February 21, at the ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors' Day and the 125th anniversary of Cho Ray Hospital, former Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said that more than 2 weeks ago, the Ministry of Health met to develop an action program on science - technology, innovation, and digital transformation. He hopes that the next generations of Cho Ray Hospital will continue the achievements and works of the previous generation to develop better and stronger; build a chain of Cho Ray Hospitals in the future to ensure the needs of health care and protection for the people.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xay-dung-nen-y-te-thong-minh-cac-benh-vien-lon-day-manh-chuyen-doi-so-185250225002402335.htm