Interview with Girish Raghavan, Vice-President, Engineering, GE HealthCare

The healthcare industry is at the forefront of digital transformation. Enterprises in this sector are fast adopting new-age solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) and internet of things (IoT), supported by 5G connectivity, to enhance patient care and optimise operational workflows. Industry leaders share their views on the key technology trends, digital initiatives and future outlook for the sector…

What are the key technology trends revolutionising the healthcare sector? What are the use cases of AI, IoT and 5G in the industry?

We are witnessing a palpable shift in the integration of AI and technology across care pathways. The techade is here and it is the interspersion of AI/ML, IoT and 5G with machines that offers precise diagnosis and treatment, reduces the administrative burden and helps healthcare systems deliver value-based care that will define the future. Precision care, with patients at its centre, will define the relevance of every technology we create now.

The pandemic triggered the need for a more preventive, predictive and precision-led healthcare approach to ensure highly targeted therapies based on the individual’s profile. AI is increasingly being leveraged across the industry, playing pivotal roles in disease prediction, surgical assistance and personalised mental health services. In addition, we have the internet of medical things (IoMT) enabling connectivity between devices and sensors, facilitating continuous health monitoring and proactive healthcare interventions. Speeding up this transition is 5G technology, which is making access to all the data and information possible for specialists located anywhere, transcending geographical boundaries and making healthcare more patient-centric rather than clinician-centric.

What were the digital initiatives taken by you during the past year? How did they help optimise business efficiency?

For decades, GE HealthCare’s digital innovations have kept patients at the heart of everything we do. We leverage the power of digital to not only reduce the administrative burden to fight infrastructural gaps but also create solutions that offer precision-led diagnosis for patients. Take, for instance, the Optima IGS 320 Cath lab; it replaced lengthy surgeries with rapid, precise angioplasties and angiograms, drastically reducing recovery times. These advancements not only accelerated research but also revolutionised medical practices. We also empower clinicians with cutting-edge insights for efficient diagnosis, treatment and patient monitoring. Last year, we collaborated with Medanta to set up a 24×7 e-ICU command centre with a vision to nurture super-speciality based critical care practices in India. The aim is to transform healthcare delivery and address the existing gaps in critical care, with a high-level knowledge transfer via 24×7 Medanta e-ICU command centre, powered by cutting edge technology from GE HealthCare that equips both central and bedside medical teams. Our collaboration with Elekta is another example of the vision to expand access to precision radiation therapy solutions in India, enabling enhanced effectiveness, accuracy and individualised treatment across the entire cancer care treatment.

What are the security risks while dealing with sensitive customer/business data? How do you address these?

As a responsible healthcare and medtech provider, we prioritise maintaining the highest safety standards. We follow strict guidelines to protect sensitive information while delivering services to our customers. Our compliance practices are governed by rigorous processes and a deep commitment to safeguarding data security and privacy. From a procedural standpoint, we have three key aspects to consider:

• A defined internal process;
• Strict adherence to global data security and privacy laws; and
• Our product design incorporates robust structures for regional law compliance

We will continuously update our data protection practices aligning with the recently passed Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (DPDP) 2023, which respects individuals’ rights while enabling lawful data processing.

What are the tech trends that will transform the healthcare space in 2024? What are your digital transformation plans for this year?

In 2024, the healthcare industry stands at the precipice of unprecedented technological transformation, poised to revolutionise the way medical services are delivered, accessed and personalised. This pivotal phase is marked by the convergence of various cutting-edge technologies, each offering profound implications for patient care, provider workflows and the overall healthcare ecosystem.

Smart and connected technology: Healthcare is moving towards a connected ecosystem where smart technology seamlessly integrates across organisational boundaries, irrespective of manufacturer or operating system. This integration enables clinicians to access and analyse patient data in real-time, enhancing clinical decision-making with the assistance of AI.

Predictive, preventative and precision care: Healthcare professionals will increasingly focus on wellness and deliver personalised care plans, enabling rapid diagnosis and precision medicine interventions as and when needed. Addressing global health inequities will involve identifying at-risk communities and implementing preventive care strategies for larger populations.

AI-driven algorithms: This is crucial in aiding radiologists to interpret diverse medical images such as X-rays, MRIs and CT scans. This method enables early interventions, personalised monitoring and also the efficient management of chronic illnesses.

By harnessing the power of data analytics and AI, GE HealthCare focuses on assisting in early disease identification through the analysis of extensive patient data. In terms of enhancing accuracy of care delivery, GE HealthCare is empowering clinicians through the provision of diagnostic and treatment technologies.