AWS’ Key Insights On Healthcare Tech Advancements

Given its prominence in storing and managing large amounts of data for corporations across all sectors, AWS has had a front row seat to where the healthcare industry, in particular, is headed.

AWS recently provided a few key insights to be mindful of as we head into this next era of data accessibility.

Predictive Analytics Benefits The Patient

Dr. Shez Partovi, who is the director of worldwide business development for healthcare, life sciences and genomics at AWS, comments. “As the country moves toward value-based care, artificial intelligence and machine learning, paired with data interoperability, will improve patient outcomes while driving operational efficiency to lower the overall cost of care.”  He further adds, “By enabling data liquidity securely and supporting healthcare providers with predictive machine learning models, clinicians will be able to seamlessly forecast clinical events, like strokes, cancer or heart attacks, and intervene early with personalized care and a superior patient experience.”

Analytics extend to predicting events from genetic variants.  Partovi contends, “Another example is INOVA Translational Medicine Institute (ITMI), which is assembling one of the world’s largest whole-genome sequence databases that will enable researchers to track 30 billion genetic variants.” He continues, “AWS architecture facilitates the storage and management of this secure data and enables ITMI researchers to develop personalized treatments and predictive care for newborns suffering from congenital disorders and patients of all ages with cancer-causing genetic mutations.”

Patient Personalization

With volumes of data within arm’s reach, providers are able to deeply personalize patient care.  “Another great example of improving the consumer health journey is Aidoc,” Partovi said. “The company’s always-on, AI-based decision support software analyzes CT scans on AWS to flag acute abnormalities, prioritize urgent studies and expedite patient care. To date, Aidoc has analyzed more than 3.2 million cases at more than 300 medical facilities around the world. At one major U.S. medical center, on average the Aidoc solution reduced patient ED visits by 59 minutes and overall hospitalization time by 18 hours.”

Data Interoperability

Patrick Combes, worldwide technical leader, healthcare and life sciences, at AWS, predicts, “Future engagements in healthcare will be revamped by using free-form, voice interactions with voice-enabled devices and smart devices,” further adding, “Having solutions that can process various media types and forms by transforming the data input from voice, image, scan, PDF, etc., into text has the potential to paint a fuller picture of health for every patient.”