As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded into our daily lives, a growing number of hospitals and health care partners are turning to Medtronic Canada to find ways to leverage the power of the emerging technology to improve patient care and optimize their operations.

For nearly a decade, Medtronic’s Integrated Health Solutions (IHS) team has been helping health care organizations cut through complex challenges that limit efficiency, drain already strained resources and create barriers to timely access to patient care.

But the rapid evolution of AI and machine learning over the past couple of years has been a game changer for the IHS team as it supports health care providers to optimize care pathways and improve operational efficiency.

Medtronic recently launched a suite of innovative solutions and services called CarePathIQ™ that combines the IHS team’s traditional consulting expertise with a portfolio of digital and AI-powered tools – including predictive analytics, remote monitoring, and patient engagement technologies – tailored to meet the unique needs of each health care environment.

The initiative is central to Medtronic’s vision of intelligent, data-driven patient pathways that reduce wait times, shorten the time from diagnosis to therapy by addressing systemic challenges in Canadian health care. The end goal is to get patients timely access to the right care, without increasing the health human resource burden or financial budget.

CarePathIQ™ is built on a partnership model, where Medtronic’s IHS team works with hospitals and health systems to co-develop and implement solutions that address their specific operational challenges.

“By integrating real-time data, automating administrative tasks, and supporting multidisciplinary teams, CarePathIQ™ allows providers to deliver timely, appropriate, and coordinated care,” shares Maisie Cheung, Sr. Director, Marketing. “This collaborative approach enhances patient compliance, streamlines recovery protocols, and fosters innovation in clinical practice.”

AI is increasingly being incorporated into this suite of solutions to progress a smart healthcare system. From AI-powered diagnostic support to intelligent clinical decision support systems, AI can enable smart hospital operations, which in turn improves the patient experience. By optimizing resource allocation, patient flow, and operational efficiency, clinicians can dedicate more time to patient care, reduce burnout, and establish a much more efficient care pathway for all.

In addition to increasing operational excellence, Medtronic is using AI as a tool to help hospitals decrease health risks for patients.

Imagine using AI to find potentially dangerous heart problems which may have otherwise gone undetected until patients arrive at the emergency department experiencing a cardiac episode. “For one customer, we used a custom-written algorithm to scan hundreds of thousands of echocardiogram records to identify patients who may have underlying aortic stenosis that may have been overlooked during regular diagnostic testing,” adds Cheung. “These patients are flagged for further investigation by a cardiologist who can then confirm the finding and determine an appropriate course of treatment.” Identifying these at-risk patients with the help of AI helps better protect them against possible health problems in the future and helps them get medical support earlier.

AI capabilities are also being added into more of our growing line-up of innovative medical devices, such as robotic-assisted surgery platforms, colonoscopy and endoscopy systems, cardiac monitoring, and insulin pumps.

“For example, our GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module relies on AI and a deep-learning algorithm to act as a second set of eyes for physicians during colonoscopies,” shares Cheung. “It scans every visual frame of the procedure in real time and alerts physicians to the presence of lesions – including small, flat polyps that can easily go undetected by the human eye. Earlier detection, powered by AI, helps hospitals increase colon cancer prevention.”

As AI applications for health care continue to advance at lightning speed, Medtronic is determined to keep ahead of the curve and identify the right AI tools for our customers. Our AI strategy is focused on deeper integration of predictive analytics, workflow automation, and personalized care tools. Our sights are set on continuing to empower providers and patients, set new standards for operational excellence, and drive continuous improvement in health care delivery across Canada.