AI Enhancements in Radiology at St. Michael’s Hospital

St. Michael’s Hospital, a Level 1 Trauma Centre, is leveraging advanced AI tools in collaboration with Unity Health’s applied AI team to revolutionize radiology and trauma care. Over the past year, the radiologists at Toronto Radiology have been a central part of the Unity Health AI team to develop and implement two new radiology AI tools to improve care and outcomes for trauma patients.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) require swift diagnosis and treatment. The AI tool ASIST-TBI screens CT scans of patients with head injuries, predicting the need for surgery with the same accuracy as a neurosurgeon. This speeds up triage, enabling emergency physicians to consult neurosurgeons directly without waiting for radiologist reviews.

Diagnosing intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) quickly is crucial for patient outcomes. The brain bleed detection tool aids neuroradiologists by accurately identifying over 85% of brain bleed cases. This technology allows radiologists to prioritize and focus on the most critical cases, enhancing efficiency and potentially saving lives.

“Implementing the brain bleed detection tool has enhanced our ability to quickly and accurately diagnose intracranial hemorrhage,” says Dr. Errol Colak, a radiologist from Toronto Radiology at St. Michael’s Hospital. “This technology empowers our radiologists to focus on the most critical cases first with the aim of improving patient out comes and saving lives.”

With these AI advancements, St. Michael’s Hospital’s radiology department is at the forefront of improving trauma care, setting new standards for efficiency and patient outcomes.

To read the full story from Unity Health Toronto, see: How AI is changing the face of trauma care – Unity Health Toronto