Dublin's Mater Hospital launches new AI centre

Dublin's Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) has launched a new Centre for AI and Digital Health which will use artificial intelligence (AI) to solve clinical problems across the hospital.
Based at the Mater's Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare, the new hub will also engage in research to develop AI-driven solutions to improve patient care and outcomes.
According to the Mater Hospital, the new centre is helping it to reduce emergency department waiting times, assist in diagnostics and automate time-consuming tasks.
The research projects include AI-driven automation to help to identify suitable patients for clinical trials in oncology, and a generative AI tool that can convert lumbar spine CT images into synthetic MRI images.
Another project is focussed on reducing the number of cardiac fluoroscopy video x-ray images, and subsequently the radiation exposure to both the patients and clinical staff, through real-time AI generated images.
In the Mater's radiology department, AI is assisting in the rapid notification of suspected pathologies, like stroke and fractures, which are being correctly flagged within two to three minutes of the scan being completed, with an accuracy rate of over 90%.
"AI has the power to transform how we deliver healthcare," said Erin Daly, Operations Manager for the Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare.
"At the Mater Hospital, we are developing AI solutions that directly improve clinical processes, whether it's streamlining workflows, assisting in medical research, or helping doctors make faster, data-driven decisions," Ms Daly said.
The Mater said it is focused on responsible and ethical implementation of AI with robust data protection and management frameworks being developed to ensure patient safety and privacy.
"AI in healthcare must be implemented with care, accountability, and a clear focus on improving patient outcomes," said Josephine Ryan Leacy, CEO of the Mater Hospital.
"The Mater Hospital's Centre for AI and Digital Health is focused on ensuring that AI is developed and deployed in a way that prioritises patient safety, transparency and real clinical benefits," Ms Leacy said.

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