Revolutionizing medical care with AI
AI is changing the way healthcare works, helping to improve service quality and reduce costs for patients. In Vietnam, many hospitals have applied AI to optimize medical examination and treatment processes.
Talking to Lao Dong reporter, Ms. Ngoc Luong, 67 years old, Nam Dinh province recounted that at the end of December 2024, she went to Bach Mai Hospital for a stomach examination. Her biggest fear when going to the hospital was waiting, doing the procedures... for the examination. However, this time, all the procedures went quickly, which surprised her a lot. "My daughter had registered for an appointment by phone, so she didn't have to wait long. Unlike the previous times when I had to wait until almost noon for the test results, but that day at 9:30 am, I received an SMS message from the hospital (via phone) saying that the test results were available," Ms. Luong shared.
Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co - Director of Bach Mai Hospital - said that the AI system analyzing X-ray images has helped diagnose faster, quickly localize suspected abnormal areas. This helps doctors diagnose images faster, more accurately and avoid missing lesions. Since November 2024, the hospital has also deployed electronic medical records, allowing patients to register for examination via mobile applications, thereby reducing the time patients have to wait.
In addition to Bach Mai, Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) has also applied AI to take quick X-rays in 20 seconds. Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital has deployed AI to control anesthesia, while Vinmec International General Hospital has invested in AI in diagnostic imaging and in vitro fertilization, especially on modern CT scan systems, allowing the creation of high-resolution images, helping doctors accurately detect lesions in difficult-to-observe locations.
At K Hospital, Prof. Dr. Le Van Quang - Director of the Hospital - shared that the hospital has applied AI combined with robotic surgery to treat liver cancer. This method helps to be minimally invasive, reduce damage, and patients recover quickly. For example, in the case of a 67-year-old female patient with liver cancer with a tumor measuring 4x5 cm. The patient underwent surgery to resect the liver in segment II using a robot and after surgery, her health condition was stable. Robotic surgery brings many benefits compared to traditional open surgery, such as clear images, high flexibility, and minimal damage...
Creating breakthroughs for the healthcare industry
Analyzing the benefits that AI is bringing to the medical field, Professor Pham Minh Thong - President of the Vietnam Association of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine - said that in medicine, diagnostic imaging is the leading field applying AI. AI helps diagnose faster and more accurately thanks to the ability to integrate multidimensional data. In addition to diagnosis, AI is also applied in health consultation, supporting the development of new drugs and optimizing medical record management.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Quy Tuong - former Director of the Department of Information Technology (Ministry of Health), Chairman of the Vietnam Medical Informatics Association - emphasized: The application of Information Technology, especially AI, not only improves the quality of medical services but also modernizes and brings the Vietnamese medical sector to a new level. The application of AI in healthcare in Vietnam is developing strongly, with great potential. AI is used to analyze medical images such as CT, X-ray and EEG to diagnose diseases, as well as assess the ability to spread of patients at high risk to public health.
Health consultation and doctor support: Many AI apps and chatbots have been developed to provide initial health consultation, help patients recognize basic symptoms, and guide them to the appropriate medical facility.
AI also helps in drug development and medical research. AI is increasingly being used in medical data analysis, helping to develop new drugs in less time and at lower costs.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities in Vietnam are also leveraging AI to manage scheduling systems, track medical records, and reduce administrative workloads. This not only improves operational efficiency but also helps improve the patient experience.
However, the application of AI in healthcare in Vietnam still faces a number of challenges, especially related to investment costs for technology infrastructure and human resource training. However, with the efforts of experts and support from authorities, AI promises to bring important steps forward in improving the quality of medical services and healthcare for people.
(Posted on the special edition of Lao Dong Xuan At Ty)
