In this episode, Kate Cruickshank talks with Kieran Erasmuson, co-founder and COO of Script Sense about how AI is reshaping the healthcare sector.
[01:09] Kate and Kieran begin the episode discussing how AI is currently utilised in healthcare, aiding research, streamlining routine tasks and enhancing diagnostics by supporting GPs and specialists with predictive tools.
[03:04] Kieran highlights a standout AI innovation being adopted in healthcare practices across New Zealand: Heidi, which is an AI powered voice-to-text tool for medical use that enables clinicians to focus more on patient care and less on data entry.
[05:22] Kieran explains how Script Sense is streamlining pharmacy workflows by automating label generation and medication analysis, allowing pharmacists to focus more on patient care (particularly in under-resourced settings) and highlighting the broader positive impacts this has on the healthcare system.
[07:44] They discuss major hurdles for the use of AI in the health sector, such as outdated legacy systems, which make it difficult for new AI tools to integrate easily. Kieran explains how this lack of compatibility has stalled innovation and forced AI companies to spend resources on integrations rather than innovation.
[12:23] Kate asks if professional scepticism is hindering AI uptake in the healthcare sector. Kieran explains that the widespread use of ChatGPT and LLMs has helped demystify AI, making professionals more receptive, especially after COVID-19 revealed urgent needs for efficiency.
[16:33] Kieran talks about the future of AI in healthcare, where machines enhance decision-making rather than replace clinicians. He highlights the enduring importance of human empathy and trust in delivering healthcare, even in an AI-enhanced system.
Information in this episode is accurate as at the date of recording, 9 April 2025.
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