Tag Archives: hospital

NHS Implements AI Tools to Expedite Hospital Discharges

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AI tools aimed at expediting patient discharge are currently being tested in various hospital trusts across London.

This platform has the potential to automatically fill out necessary paperwork to facilitate the discharge of suitable patients, thereby reducing delays and freeing up hospital beds.

Health Secretary Wes Street emphasized that this technology will enable healthcare providers to allocate less time to administrative tasks, allowing them to focus more on patient care and consequently decrease waiting periods.

The Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust is piloting this platform, which extracts essential data from medical records, including diagnoses and test results.

This functionality aids healthcare providers in drafting discharge summaries, which are essential before patients can be released from the hospital.

These summaries undergo a review by the patient’s medical professional and are utilized for either patient discharge or referral to other services.

The Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Technology often finds itself overwhelmed with form-filling, leading to significant delays for patients awaiting discharge.

Street stated: “This potentially transformative tool is a perfect example of the transition from analog to digital as part of a decade-long health initiative.”

“We are harnessing cutting-edge technology to create an NHS that is equipped for the future, addressing the backlog that has left many waiting for far too long.”

“As a result, doctors will spend less time on paperwork, enabling quicker patient discharges and freeing beds for those in greater need.”


This tool operates on the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), a system intended to enhance collaboration among health and care organizations to improve patient service.

In January, Prime Minister Kiel’s Starmer remarked that AI would be used to evaluate past performance in the economy and public services.

Additionally, the government has unveiled technology expected to reduce the time that probation officers need to process cases later this year. This system assists probation officers in taking notes and transcribing during meetings with former inmates.

AI applications are being tested throughout the NHS, functioning as an early warning system that analyzes hospital databases to identify potential safety issues, detect patterns, and prompt emergency testing.

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The first NHS AI-run Physiotherapy Clinic has successfully halved the waiting list for both lower back pain and musculoskeletal services. Over 2,500 patients in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough accessed the Flok Health physical therapy app for a 12-week period beginning in February.

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Moreover, the NHS in the UK is exploring the use of “superhuman” AI tools that are designed to predict potential early illness and mortality risks in patients.

During a visit to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stated:

“This government is revitalizing a public sector that has faced years of underfunding and is in dire need of reform.

“These AI innovations exemplify how technology can be leveraged to cultivate a more efficient and intelligent state.

“If executed properly across government sectors, we could potentially unlock £45 billion in productivity gains and foster investment plans aimed at growth, instead of bureaucracy.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

David Paton, the visionary behind the Flying Eye Hospital, passes away at age 94

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David Patong, an innovative and ideal ophthalmologist, initiated Project Orvis, where he transformed United Airlines jets into flying hospitals, transported surgeons to developing nations, trained local doctors, and passed away on April 3 at his residence in Reno, Nevada.

His son Townlee confirmed his demise.

Dr. Patong (pronounced Pay-Ton), the son of a renowned New York ophthalmologist and descendant of Iranian Shah and financier J. Pierpont Morgan, taught at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in the early 1970s. He was disheartened by the rising number of preventable blindness cases in remote regions.

In his memoir “Second Sight: A View from The Anay Doctor’s Odyssey” (2011), he wrote, “We needed more ophthalmologists… but also needed to enhance medical education for existing physicians.”

Considering various options like shipping equipment trunks and using medical ships similar to Project Hope, he ultimately founded Project Orvis in 1973 with the support of wealthy individuals like Texas oilmen Leonard F. McCollum and Betsy Trippe Wainwright.

After the moon landing in 1969, Dr. Patong believed that the concept of Moonshot was feasible. He envisioned converting large aircraft into operating rooms, educational classrooms, or any required facility.

He relentlessly sought ways to obtain an airplane, approaching the military and universities without success. Dr. Patong, described by Bruce Spivey as charming and unrelenting, eventually raised the necessary funds himself.

In 1980, with the help of Betsy Trippe, he secured a donated DC-8 Jet from United Airlines to create a flying hospital. This marked the beginning of life-changing missions to various countries where local health workers witnessed surgeries in specially-equipped classrooms onboard.

The Flying Eye Hospital facilitated surgeries in multiple nations like Peru, Jordan, and Nepal, receiving visits from prominent figures like Mother Teresa and Fidel Castro. Their impactful work caught the attention of media outlets like the Sunday Times, sharing stories of patients like Julia.

Julia’s transformative surgery showcased the effectiveness of their efforts in restoring vision to the visually impaired. Despite challenges, the procedure led to profound moments of discovery for Julia as she regained her sight gradually.

Born on August 16, 1930, in Baltimore, David Paton hailed from a family with a rich medical background. His upbringing in Manhattan and exposure to eminent personalities shaped his journey towards medical innovation.

His formative years were filled with experiences among intellectuals and socialites, leading to his academic pursuits at Hill School and Princeton University. He maintained close ties with lifelong friend James A. Baker III while excelling in his medical career.

In addition to his contributions to Project Orvis, Dr. Paton served as a distinguished medical director in institutions like King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. His dedication to providing eye care to royalty in Saudi Arabia reflected his commitment to improving global healthcare.

Although his formal ties with Project Orvis ended in 1987, Dr. Patong continued to offer guidance informally. The organization, now known as Orbis International, has expanded its operations with a fleet of planes and a robust track record of surgeries and training sessions.

Orbis International’s enduring impact is a testament to Dr. Patong’s visionary approach to healthcare. The organization’s innovative use of airplanes as a platform for medical missions has revolutionized the way eye care is delivered globally.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Five nurses at Massachusetts Hospital working together in the same unit diagnosed with brain tumors

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An investigation is underway at a Boston area hospital involving five nurses who worked in the same department and developed brain tumors.

Mass General Brigham Newton Wellesley Hospital reported a total of 11 employees in the fifth floor obstetrics department have raised health concerns, with five of them being diagnosed with benign brain tumors. Two of these tumors are meningiomas, the most common and benign types of brain tumors.

“The investigation did not find any environmental risks associated with the development of brain tumors,” said hospital administrator Jonathan Sonis, in a statement alongside Associate Nurse Sandy Muse Jonathan Sonis.

The hospital conducted the investigation in collaboration with government health and safety officials, ruling out disposable masks, water supplies, nearby X-rays, and chemotherapy treatments as possible sources of the issue.

“Based on these findings, we can assure our staff and patients that there are no environmental risks within our facilities,” the administrator assured.

Exterior of Mass General Brigham Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts.
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The Massachusetts Nurse Association, currently negotiating nurse compensation at the hospital, expressed their commitment to ongoing investigation.

The union highlighted nurses’ concerns about workplace health, leading to the discovery of individuals with tumors.

“The hospital’s environmental tests were not comprehensive, and they only spoke to a few nurses,” stated MNA spokesman Joe Markman. “The hospital cannot sweep this issue under the rug.”

The state agency and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are yet to provide conclusive information on the matter.

According to the American Cancer Society, a cancer cluster would involve an unusually high number of cancer cases within a specific area sharing common characteristics.

“Four out of ten people in the US develop cancer during their lifetime,” stated the association, emphasizing the frequency of cancer occurrences.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Clown visits may shorten children’s hospital stays

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Medical clowns can help kids through treatment

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Children and teens with pneumonia who receive a visit from a medical clown to help slow their heart rates and promote independence appear to spend less time in hospital.

Visits from medical clowns can help kids role-play or provide distraction during treatment, but until now Reduced stress and anxiety for young people in hospital.

now, Karin Yaakoby Vienu Researchers from the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, and their colleagues specifically studied its effects in children hospitalized with pneumonia (lung inflammation).

The researchers randomly selected 26 children and young people aged 2 to 18 with pneumonia to receive 15-minute visits from a health clown twice a day for two days after their arrival at the center, while another 25 children and young people received similar care but without visits from a clown.

The clowns sang and played music with the participants, encouraging them to eat and drink on their own. “At first they were getting fluids and nutrients through tubes,” says Jacoby Vianeu.

The researchers found that patients who received a clown visit stayed at the center for an average of 44 hours, compared with 70 hours for those who didn't. The results were presented at the European Respiratory Society conference in Vienna, Austria.

Doctors, who didn't know which patients had received Clown Care, decided when to discharge them based on improvements in breathing and heart rate and the ability to eat and drink on their own, the latter indicating they could take antibiotic tablets at home rather than being given drugs intravenously, Yaacobi-Vianeu said.

The clowns likely helped the participants recover through play. It can lower blood pressure,say Kelsey Glover “Play can also boost young people's well-being, mood, energy levels and physical confidence and capability,” say researchers from the University of Cambridge.

Graeber said the researchers should repeat the study in larger groups of children and teens with a variety of conditions at other hospitals.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Russian Criminal Group Believed to Be Responsible for Cyber Attack on London Hospital, According to Experts

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According to the former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, a Russian cybercriminal group is responsible for a ransomware attack that disrupted operations and testing at a major NHS hospital in London.

The attack on pathology services firm Synovis resulted in a significant capacity impairment and was deemed a very serious incident.

Following the attack, the affected hospital declared a critical situation, halted operations and tests, and was unable to conduct blood transfusions.

A memo sent to NHS staff at multiple London hospitals and primary care services described the incident as a “major IT incident”.

During a BBC Radio 4 interview, Ciarán Martin confirmed that a group of Russian cybercriminals known as Kirin was behind the Synovis attack. These groups operate within Russia, targeting organizations globally for financial gain.

The cybercriminals, who have a history of attacks on various entities, inadvertently caused severe disruption to primary care with their ransomware attack.

While the government’s policy is to refrain from paying ransoms, companies affected by such attacks have the option to do so.

The National Cyber Security Centre is collaborating with NHS authorities to investigate the repercussions of the cyber attack.

Synovis has reported the incident to the police and the Information Commissioner.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins assured that patient safety is the top priority and efforts are underway to resume services safely.

Synovis CEO Mark Darragh mentioned that a taskforce of Synovis and NHS IT experts is evaluating the impact and necessary measures.

It may take “weeks rather than days” to receive pathology results due to the severity of the attack, as per a senior source cited by the Health Service Journal.

Source: www.theguardian.com

AI Predicting Mortality Risk Saves Lives in Hospital Trial

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Electrocardiogram tests used to train AI to predict risk of fatal heart disease

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Artificial intelligence systems have proven they can save lives by alerting doctors to test patients whose heart test results show they are at high risk of death. In a randomized clinical trial of approximately 16,000 patients across two hospitals, AI reduced overall deaths in high-risk patients by 31%.

“This is actually quite unusual,” he says Eric Topol Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute Translational Institute in California were not involved in the study. “Any drug, [produce] Mortality is down 31%, and it's even rarer for non-drugs, but that's just monitoring people with AI. ”

Chin Lin Researchers at Taiwan's National Defense Medical Center first trained the AI ​​on more than 450,000 electrocardiogram (ECG) tests that measure the electrical activity of the heart, as well as survival data from ECG subjects. The AI ​​learned to generate a percentile score representing each patient's risk of death, and considered patients at at least the 95th percentile to be at high risk.

The researchers then tested the AI ​​alert system with 39 doctors from two different hospitals. When a nurse uploads a new patient's EKG test to a computer server, an AI system analyzes the results and immediately alerts doctors if the patient is deemed to be at high risk.

In addition to reducing the risk of death from all causes, the AI ​​system reduced deaths in high-risk patients from heart disease by more than 90%.

Lin and his colleagues speculate that AI predictions could help focus attention on groups most at risk. Doctors usually respond to alerts with more diagnostic tests or additional treatments.

The AI ​​alert system is already in use at 14 military hospitals in Taiwan.

“This can be implemented in every hospital in the world, and it shouldn't be expensive,” says Topol. “If it's so effective, it should become the standard of care.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com