Use AI to enhance remote patient care

locally developed AI-based remote patient monitoring system It uses a video image of the patient’s face to accurately measure heart rate without the need for additional devices.

The technology is designed to work with consumer-level cameras, such as those already attached to computers and tablets, and can also be used to measure additional statistics such as blood pressure, oxygen, pain and anxiety levels. can be developed.

Jinman Kim, Professor of Telehealth and Technology Center at Nepean Hospital, said the development of AI is the latest frontier in advancing remote patient care, with more inconvenient and potentially less accurate methods of remote patient monitoring such as blood pressure cuffs and wearable sensors. stated that it aims to replace .

“For a long time we focused on how to make video conferencing easier and more widely available, and now the problem is largely solved,” says Professor Kim.

“We are currently looking at ways to maximize the use of information from video to improve the reach and quality of remote patient care.”

While similar technologies are beginning to take hold internationally, the system being developed at Nepean Hospital is uniquely localized for specific patient cohorts.

“While the use of facial expressions to measure anxiety etc. is well documented, the specific interest in measuring heart rate and the focus on cardiology is very unique. says Professor Kim.

By narrowing the scope of the project to be very specific, the team was determined to optimize the AI ​​for precise use in cardiology, while maintaining the highest possible standards of data security and protecting patient privacy. I can.

This technology, a type of photoplethysmography, uses light to monitor changes in blood flow under the skin to measure cardiovascular activity signals.

New AI-based remote patient monitoring systems adapt these techniques to interpret light signals that render video images of human faces, automating and improving aspects of patient monitoring during the course of a regular video consultation. increase.

“My vision is that every telemedicine appointment will generate additional, authoritative health information completely free of charge and without asking patients to do anything extra,” says Professor Kim.

So far, this technique has been successfully trialed on public data sets. It has now received full ethical approval and is entering clinical trials in partnership with the cardiology department of NBMLHD.

“This technology offers the opportunity to further simplify patient requirements,” says Professor Kim.

“This is a true interdisciplinary effort between computer scientists and health professionals and a great example of what great collaboration can achieve.”