Research pick: AI advances healthcare - "Competitive advantage in healthcare based on augmentation of clinical images with artificial intelligence: case study of the ‘Sambias’ project"

In the world of healthcare artificial intelligence (AI), the SAMBIAS project from Casa di Cura Tortorella s.p.a. in Salerno, Italy, is an important case study. The project takes a pragmatic approach to data sharing, according to a paper in the International Journal of Managerial and Financial Accounting, focusing on a web-based platform designed to enhance the competitiveness of healthcare organizations, particularly in the context of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models.

SAMBIAS primarily addresses the need for abundant and reliable datasets in the healthcare domain. By using data from healthcare information systems, the platform can provide augmented sets of clinical situations, thereby contributing to more efficient performance within healthcare organizations.

This new study aligns well with earlier insights and emphasizes the importance of integrating innovative technologies in AI applications, especially in areas like radiology. The focus of the project is on the analysis of medical images using ML and DL models and represents an important step forward in data analysis from a clinical perspective.

Alessandra D’Amico of the Department of Radiology at Tortorella and colleagues point out that one key aspect is the role of AI in balancing high-quality medical treatment with operational efficiency within a healthcare organization. The work suggests that the ongoing debate about the validity and reliability of AI in the medical field will likely shift towards optimizing its use to enhance the overall effectiveness of global healthcare processes.

While the adoption of AI in healthcare is a potential source of competitive advantage for healthcare organizations, the study underscores the need to maintain a primary focus on patient health. The SAMBIAS project envisions a future where discussions about AI in healthcare move beyond the kind of scepticism and cynicism seen in the media hyperbole and reactionary observations to practical considerations about how to harness its potential for the ongoing of improvement in healthcare.

D’Amico, A., Di Capua, M., Di Nardo, E., Rosak-Szyrocka, J., Tortorella, G. and Festa, G. (2024) ‘Competitive advantage in healthcare based on augmentation of clinical images with artificial intelligence: case study of the ‘Sambias’ project’, Int. J. Managerial and Financial Accounting, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.1–16.