Exploring Opportunities and Challenges for Artificial Intelligence within Healthcare A Case Study at Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Abstract

The healthcare sector is experiencing an increased burden caused by an ageing population, whereof many suffer from multiple diseases and health problems. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been subject to major hype in recent years, and many sense its big potential for healthcare applications. Nevertheless, the uptake has been slow, and very little is implemented in clinical practice. Stemming from this, the aim of this study is to investigate opportunities and challenges associated with using AI in healthcare, as well as provide suggestions for how further adoption of AI within healthcare organizations can be facilitated. Firstly, to get an idea of the current market, a mapping of CE approved AI medical devices was conducted. As a result, 343 products were identified, mostly within the field of radiology. Moreover, a brief exploration of current research regarding AI within healthcare was performed, and it appears that the research corresponds well with the trends seen in the mapping. Additionally, bigger trends associated with AI such as precision medicine and telemedicine were identified. To understand the context of healthcare organizations and its prerequisites for adopting AI, a case study was conducted at Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SU), one of the biggest hospitals in Sweden and Europe. From this, some major opportunities and challenges associated with AI were identified. By applying technological innovation systems theory, the innovation system and its dynamics were analyzed, and areas of improvement could be identified. This was then used to derive implications for the future work with AI for healthcare organizations. Briefly, the implications regard enhanced knowledge and competence, generation and illustration of use cases, enabling infrastructure, support to develop and implement products, and stimulation of research and collaborations.