This post was contributed by Bibb Allen Jr., MD, FACR, chief medical officer of the ACR Data Science Institute.
You may have heard that medical imaging artificial intelligence (AI) might one day replace radiologists. This is science fiction.
Science fact is — AI use can only increase the value radiologists provide — not diminish it.
Technologies are emerging that can help radiologists improve imaging care. However, for these tools to be most effective, a national framework must be established to:
- Identify where data science tools will be most helpful for imaging care
- Make AI tools accessible across various software and hardware platforms
- Incorporate AI effectively into radiology clinical workflow
The newly launched American College of Radiology Data Science Institute™ (DSI) will lead the effort to create this framework.
The ACR Data Science Institute is an industry-wide, vendor-neutral approach to validating and implementing AI technologies into radiology practice.
The DSI approach is similar to the ACR’s pioneering role in working with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) to create Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards.
These DICOM standards promoted adoption of digital modalities, filmless radiology and PACS, advanced visualization, and image distribution.
Such tools have helped radiology and radiologists make medical imaging better. AI will one day help us improve patient care even more.
- How do you see medical imaging AI improving patient care?
- How do you think medical imaging AI will change radiology?
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