Omdia: Global Medical AI Software Market Size Reached $823 Million in 2019

Source: Omdia

According to AIUS , AI in ultrasound is versatile, with 60% of respondents using AI in multiple clinical applications . Utilization of AI in general imaging is the most commonly reported clinical application, but Omdia expects utilization of AI in planning of care ( POC ), cardiology, and non-traditional applications to increase in the coming years as image libraries grow and the development of more specialized algorithms becomes possible . In addition to the use of portable medical imaging devices, the growth of AI in edge and POC environments will drive the integration and cloud deployment of AI.

AI enables more efficient and effective diagnosis, which is critical during the COVID-19 pandemic

As the virus continues to wreak havoc on healthcare systems around the world, healthcare organizations are adopting AI as an important tool in the fight against COVID-19 . AI is being used to quickly screen and triage COVID-19 patients and identify symptoms in scans. This can help healthcare organizations limit the spread of the virus and treat more patients quickly. While many healthcare organizations are using pre-existing AI , a number of AI vendors and device manufacturers have developed and continue to develop AI software to help identify and diagnose pulmonary and cardiovascular symptoms associated with COVID-19 . The accelerated development of software, increased funding, and loosening of regulations speak to the benefits and growing understanding of AI for COVID-19 .

To popularize medical AI , its value must be conveyed to more audiences

While in many cases the advantages of using a new technology are only anecdotal, the benefits of AI are supported by several metrics tracked by healthcare administrators. According to AIUS , 85% of respondents reported that AI saved their practice time, 69% reported that using AI saved their practice money, 82% cited improved diagnosis as the top driver for AI adoption , 74% reported that AI increased their utilization of ultrasound, and 49% reported that AI reduced the amount of training required for technicians to operate ultrasound. These results are significant because they show that the vast majority of respondents saw measurable improvements after using AI .

Healthcare organizations that have adopted AI clearly understand its value, as reflected in usage rates. AIUS results show that 73% of respondents use AI capabilities at least once a day, and 40% use them once an hour. This buy-in from the healthcare community is critical to the widespread implementation of medical AI . AI vendors should continue to work with device manufacturers, healthcare organizations, and medical schools to identify key AI applications and promote adoption.