The breakthrough of AI and other digital technologies in healthcare is in full swing. All over the world, solutions are being developed that can contribute to tackling the many challenges facing the healthcare sector. Think of staff shortages, the ever-increasing workload due to the growing demand for care, an aging population and administrative tasks. Attention and developments in the field of AI in healthcare are also growing on a local and regional level. In Limburg, the southernmost province of the Netherlands, six hospitals and the Brightlands AI hub are joining forces in this area with the launch of the Health AI & Data Alliance.
The development of successful and, in particular, reliable AI algorithms require a lot of (anonymized) data, such as patient data and images. With the establishment of the Health AI & Data Alliance Limburg, MUMC+, Zuyderland, VieCuri, Laurentius, Maastro Clinic, St. Jans Gasthuis and Brightlands believe they will have not only more data, but also better-quality data for the development of reliable and accurate AI algorithms.
Great leap forward
According to the initiators, the launch of the Health AI & Data Alliance Limburg marks a great leap forward in the application of AI in healthcare with the goal of developing AI applications for future-proof healthcare in Limburg. In addition, the partners also see the need for easier sharing of algorithms. The Health AI & Data Alliance Limburg will facilitate this collaboration and increase the innovative power of Limburg.
“The pressure on care is increasing in all healthcare organizations, especially due to the increasing demand for care and an increasing shortage of employees. Therefore, we need to cooperate and innovate where we can. For example, for reduction of registration burden and the joint use of our data to make the best choices, also for the individual patient. All to keep healthcare in Limburg accessible and quality high. So this cooperation is an important step,” said Helen Mertens, chairman of the board of Maastricht UMC+.
AI-assisted care in 2028
The hospitals within the alliance want to offer AI-assisted care by 2028. Ai should then be used for accurate diagnoses, administrative burden reduction and personalized treatment plans. These are three areas of application in which, worldwide but also in the Netherlands, many developments are already underway. Think of AI-assisted analyses and diagnostics in radiology, generative AI solutions for automatically registering and elaborating conversations between doctor and patient, and improving treatment plans for cancer using AI.
Within the Limburg alliance, the focus for the deployment of AI is in three key areas:
- Regional data availability: Hospitals are collaborating on secure exchange of data used to develop AI applications.
- AI application development and implementation: Concrete AI solutions are developed, shared and integrated into daily practice for better and more efficient healthcare.
- AI readiness of healthcare workers: Healthcare professionals are trained to make optimal use of AI applications.
Staff shortage
AI solutions will not, and cannot, replace healthcare professionals. So in that respect, AI will not be a direct solution to the staff shortage facing healthcare. The potential of AI lies in easing administrative burdens and contributing to a more efficient work environment. Therefore, the goal of the alliance is to deploy digital technologies and AI to support the work of healthcare workers and improve the quality of care.
“With this alliance, we are laying a solid foundation to jointly innovate and embrace the potential of AI in healthcare,” said Esther Talboom, Zuyderland board member. Walter Pijls, CEO of the Brightlands Smart Services Campus, emphasizes, “The cooperation within the Health AI & Data Alliantie Limburg underlines the power of connection within our ecosystem. By combining data and knowledge from hospitals with the expertise of Brightlands, we are building innovative solutions that not only improve healthcare in Limburg but also profile the region as a leader in the application of AI in healthcare. Together, we are creating impact that contributes to better care for our residents.”
