Generative AI is poised to reshape the future of healthcare, driving innovation in patient care, diagnostics and operational workflows. In an exclusive interview with Express Computer, Prakash KS, Head of Gen-AI CoC at Siemens Healthineers Global Development Center, shares the strategic vision behind these transformative technologies. From integrating multimodal data for better decision support to enhancing remote health capabilities, Prakash explains how Siemens Healthineers is leveraging AI to create a transparent, patient-centric ecosystem while addressing challenges pressing issues such as data security and global healthcare accessibility.
What is the strategic vision for generative AI at Siemens Healthineers and how do you see it transforming the healthcare industry?
Siemens Healthineers fundamentally views healthcare as an end-to-end delivery model. It’s not just about the doctor; it is about the well-being of the patient, their family and the doctor as the point of contact. Our approach aims to impact all three areas.
Our primary goal is to have a direct impact on patient care. For example, one use case is the use of AI systems to take over mundane tasks given to doctors so that they can give more time to their patients.
Next, we consolidate data from multiple sources – imaging devices, EMR systems and diagnostic reports – which present the data in different formats. Using technology, we can bring this data together and allow doctors to help make decisions.
From the patient’s perspective, we aim to optimize workflows. Today, navigating a healthcare setting from diagnosis to treatment can be overwhelming. Can we simplify this process, eliminate repetitive steps, or even predict symptom matches for conditions before they manifest?
Another goal is remote health. Can we enable remote diagnosis and predictive care at a single point of contact? AI can also improve reporting, providing simplified summaries that help families understand an illness, its care process, and its implications.
Sometimes care doesn’t always mean a solution, care is ongoing. Siemens Healthineers’ strategy revolves around better reporting, integrating data from imaging and other sources such as genomics, and creating transparent workflows. Ancillary objectives include ensuring equipment reliability and improving user training for healthcare professionals.
You mentioned patient care and safety as key priorities. Are there any specific GenAI or AI case studies at Siemens Healthineers that highlight these efforts?
We have worked on several initiatives. One example we presented last year at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference was integrating diagnostic imaging into reporting. This combines structured data with unstructured data, providing actionable insights for healthcare providers. We are also working on generative AI for customer service and support as well as training medical staff.
Another initiative is clinical decision support, where we analyze data from blood tests, clinical data (age, gender, etc.) and other sources to identify potential disease susceptibility. Although not definitive, AI can help clinicians by showing them areas to monitor. This is still human intervention, meaning the AI supports but does not make decisions.
Data security is essential, especially given growing security threats. How does Siemens Healthineers ensure data security?
Data security involves three aspects: collection, storage and persistence, while complying with the highest legal and regulatory standards.
First, we ensure clarity and transparency in data collection, meeting GDPR deadlines and providing users with control over their data. This includes allowing data to be deleted when necessary.
Second, we practice data economics by using only the data needed to develop algorithms, thereby avoiding overengineering.
Third, we secure data through rigorous authentication, authorization and access. We comply with regulatory frameworks globally and aim to stay ahead of emerging standards. Additionally, patient data is anonymized at source unless explicitly required for a specific use case.
Looking ahead, what trends or innovations do you see shaping healthcare in the coming years?
Health care will become more precise and more personal. Two key enablers are cloud computing and advances in communications technologies.
More than a decade ago, we recognized that devices needed connectivity, even before we fully understood the implications. Today, connectivity enables AI-driven precision medicine, including drug discovery, robotic surgeries, and remote healthcare solutions.
This situation is also due to a global shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in developed and underserved regions. Remote health technologies will fill these gaps, allowing expertise to be provided where it is needed.
In the future of medicine, digital twin patients will contribute to early diagnosis and precision care and Siemens Healthineers is working to develop them. Powerful AI-based applications are already in use and contribute to the concept of the patient’s digital twin. Using algorithm-based models and large amounts of data, we try to better understand people’s health conditions in order to improve treatment outcomes. This is a long-term vision, but it is already technically feasible today in the form of partial solutions. Although the technology exists, implementing these concepts into clinical applications will take many years. It is therefore important to create the conditions in hospitals today and to continuously implement the available partial solutions.
Additionally, the integration of AI in multimodal imaging decision support has significantly improved healthcare in India. It has accelerated diagnostics by providing accurate information from various imaging sources such as MRI, CT scan and X-ray, facilitating early disease detection and treatment planning. This technology also optimizes the use of resources and reduces costs. In India, where healthcare resources can be scarce, AI-powered decision support systems are expanding access to quality care in remote areas, enabling telemedicine and supporting professionals overburdened health workers.
Security is also a concern for remote health. Do we need new measures to address these risks?
Security should be proactive, not reactive. Historically, security measures have been developed in response to breaches. This approach is no longer enough.
Today, we focus on end-to-end security, from patient devices to communication channels. Emerging solutions such as federated learning where data is processed locally rather than transferred can improve security. With the advent of 5G and future technologies like 6G, we expect these metrics to evolve further.
What is your IT roadmap for the healthcare sector over the next few years?
Medical informatics will focus on precision medicine and personal care. Patient touchpoints will become more precise, improving diagnosis, automation and image post-processing. IT systems will improve communication, providing concise reports and mapping historical data with current diseases.
Remote health and robotic surgeries will gain ground. Additionally, drug discovery and management will evolve to enable real-time monitoring and adjustments. Home health is another area to watch.