B.C. gov’t testing new tech, AI for health diagnoses

New digital health tools that could help you get consultations and diagnoses for diseases and cancers are being tested by the B.C. government.

In a release Monday, the province says its laboratories are testing digital “innovative solutions” to support more rapid diagnostic services, including software that would allow patients to securely send images to pathologists around B.C.

Three projects, supported by $ 2.65 million in funding through B.C.’s Integrated Marketplace, will “help reshape how pathology services are delivered in B.C.,” the province says.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the tech has the potential to save lives.

“Through the testbed, potential solutions can be found, such as the ability to share and consult on diagnoses around the province helping health-care professionals access data and analyses more quickly and reducing wait times for patients. This is a significant project that will help strengthen B.C.’s health-care system now, and in the future,” said Dix.

The province says there are more than 4,200 publicly funded diagnostic tests available in B.C., that result in more than 96 million tests annually that need to be analyzed and diagnosed.

The tests will reportedly help the province determine if digital technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), can help with that load.

“Implementing digital tools and a provincial cloud solution will support more rapid diagnostic services and the ability to use AI and innovative algorithms to improve health service delivery,” said the release.

The province says the results from the three projects will be used to inform the future of investment into an “integrated” digital pathology system.