AGENTIC AI USE-CASES IN HEALTHCARE

The healthcare industry is recently experiencing a paradigm shift in how tasks are executed with the introduction and adoption of Agentic AI.

The term “Agentic” comes from the word agency, which means having a “sense of control”. It refers to the capacity of individuals (or systems) to act independently and make their own choices.

Agentic AI is a type of AI that is autonomous. The agent can make decisions, take actions, and even learn on its own to achieve specific goals. 

In the healthcare industry, these agents can interact, collaborate, and make decisions to improve patient outcomes and make the work of medical practitioners more efficient and effective.

There are so many potential applications in the healthcare industry. Here are some use cases of Agentic AI Applications in Healthcare industry:

1. Automated Disease Diagnosis:

Traditional diagnostic processes often rely on the expertise of radiologists and pathologists, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error. Agentic AI can now analyze patient medical data and images such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to identify anomalies and tumors at an early stage to provide and suggest accurate and early diagnosis and symptoms of diseases. 

For example: in the detection of conditions like cancer, AI-powered imaging tools can identify tumors at early stages, enabling timely interventions. AI agents can also analyze thousands of images in seconds, identifying subtle patterns that might be missed by human radiologists.

2. Personalized Patient Care and Treatment Plans:

Personalized medicine is at the forefront of modern healthcare and Agentic AI is bringing this into reality. Agentic AI can analyze patient data such as genetic information, medical history, and lifestyle factors to create and recommend an effective personalized patient treatment plan. The agent can suggest the most effective therapy. 

For example: AI can tailor chemotherapy plans based on patient genetic profiles and respond to previous treatment. Also, in the treatment of chronic conditions like diabetes, AI systems can monitor a patient’s blood sugar levels in real-time and adjust medication dosages accordingly.

3. Continuous Real-time Patient Monitoring:

Monitoring patients is vital to proactively prevent emergencies. Agentic AI enables continuous tracking and analysis of patient health data using wearables and IoT devices. By utilizing real-time data analytics and anomaly detection algorithms to continuously monitor patient Vital Signs using wearables and other medical devices, these can help prevent some emergencies. 

For example: Using Agentic AI, we can detect irregular heartbeat from wearable ECG monitors and alert healthcare providers immediately.

4. Virtual Health Assistants for Everyday Care:

Virtual assistants are designed to engage with patients through various channels. They are used for several purposes, including making appointments, getting medical consultations, and mediating a number of chronic diseases. 

Agentic AI can interact with patients through smartphones or computers. These virtual assistants can provide medical information, reminders, and medical support. This Agent maintains continuity of care by providing timely follow-up and pill reminders, visit reminders, and recommended changes in behavior to patients. It also collects information on the extent of recovery, ensuring that there is an interacting link between them and the doctors.

For example: AI chatbot can help a patient manage their Diabetes by providing daily tips and monitoring their blood sugar level.

5. Routine Administrative Tasks Automation:

Agentic AI can handle administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, billing, and managing patient records. By taking on routine tasks, the AI reduces administrative workload, enabling staff to focus on critical patient care while improving patient satisfaction. 

For example: Agentic AI can autonomously handle appointment scheduling, medication reminders, and patient inquiries.

6. Mental Health Support:

The integration of AI agents in mental health care is a significant milestone in the field’s evolution. Agentic AI can use sentiment analysis to provide mental health support through virtual therapy sessions and chatbots. These agents can offer cognitive behaviour therapy, mindfulness exercises, and emotional support. 

For example: Woebot is a mental health support agent.

Potential Risks of Agentic AI in HealthCare Industry

Finally, while Agentic AI come with lots of benefits to the healthcare industry, it also comes with some challenges that need to be put into considerations in the implementation of Agentic AI in Healthcare:

1. Data Privacy and Security Risk: Healthcare data is highly sensitive. Ensuring that patient data is protected from breaches and misuse is paramount. Health organizations must implement robust privacy and cybersecurity measures that protect patient data and comply with industry regulatory requirements.

1. Ethical and Accountability Concerns: Agentic AI systems, with their increased autonomy and decision-making capabilities, can raise ethical questions around transparency, fairness, and accountability. Lack of transparency may reduce the trustworthiness of AI’s decisions and prove to be an obstacle to its adoption and auditability. Ensuring that AI decisions are transparent and aligned with ethical standards is crucial. There must be clear guidelines on the extent to which AI systems can make decisions autonomously, especially in life-or-death situations

1. Ensuring Accuracy and Reliability: While Agentic AI systems can significantly enhance diagnostics and treatment, ensuring their accuracy and reliability is essential. AI algorithms must be rigorously tested and validated before being deployed in clinical settings. Continuous monitoring and updating of AI systems are also necessary to maintain their effectiveness. 

Finally, Agentic AI is a promising AI technology that would revolutionize our world, and it can be used in any industry that requires end-to-end automation and complex problem-solving.