Tech Desk 
Oct 27, 2024
Artificial intelligence (AI) can reduce the chances of missed fractures on X-rays from the naked eye and cause human error.
The speculation was made by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which endorses AI as a support tool for National Health Service (NHS) clinicians.
The health body suggested that this joint approach can lead to a faster assessment of the patient's situation without compromising health.
NICE recommended four specific AI tools for trials across England. The tools are under the observation of healthcare professionals.
The NHS reports a shortage of radiology staff, reporting vacancy rates for radiologists at 12.5% and for radiographers at 15%. This extent of understaffing contributes to high workloads and causes diagnostic errors.
Read more: Nordic and BeeKeeper AI launches 'RightAI' to optimise healthcare operations
This advancement aims to provide relief to the workforce from overextended radiology, ensuring accurate diagnostic results. The research conducted by NICE advises that using AI in urgent care for X-ray analysis can enhance the accuracy of fracture diagnoses, as it helps identify a case that might otherwise be overlooked due to high clinical demands.
NICE’s health technology director Mark Chapman said AI tools can improve fracture diagnosis rates, whose assessment can lessen the rate of follow-up appointments as fractures won’t be missed during the initial assessment.
AI in cancer detection, heart attack risk assessment
The demand for AI has risen across emergency departments, as the potential for AI in healthcare is being explored in early cancer detection, heart attack risk assessment, and pandemic predictions. AI-assisted fracture detection is currently open for public consultation and is set to conclude on 5 November.
