Challenge B

„Transforming Colon Examinations“

Proposed by Medtronic

Artificial intelligence can do more than many people realize. In future, but also already now, its task will increasingly be to support doctors in diagnosis and suggest therapeutic measures. The idea is that the combination of doctor and AI will be able to make the right diagnosis faster and more reliably and provide the patient with the appropriate treatment. Fewer errors occur, patient safety increases and more examinations can be carried out per unit of time.

Even when examining the colon, which is usually performed by a gastroenterology specialist under anaesthesia using a tube with a powerful light source and camera at the end, powerful AI tools now „watch“ the examination. They work as a second observer, giving suggestions and increasing the observer’s perception of specific areas with the benefit of not falling under human limitations like distraction or fatigue.

However, these AI-supported services are not yet reimbursed by statutory health insurance companies and must be paid for by the patients themselves if doctors draw attention to them at all.

How can we ensure that existing AI technology is better accepted by doctors and made available to patients, and how can we achieve awareness and a positive demand from patients for this new method?