In the midst of increasing patient demand and workforce shortages in health systems, standardized protocols and procedures have never been more vital, particularly for patients with brain injuries. However, some protocols are more effective than others, resulting in inconsistent care for certain conditions.
One such condition is intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), a brain injury associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. A recent report published in the Stroke journal by an international panel of clinical researchers highlighted the inconsistent protocols for ICH patients across institutions. The authors advocate for an overhaul of current practices to align with the protocols for ischemic stroke patients, proposing a mix of early intervention, bundled care, and time-based metrics to improve neurological outcomes.
Given the critical nature of “time is brain” in neuro care, artificial intelligence (AI) could feature significantly in improving and standardising care. AI could be instrumental in effectively triaging ICH patients by identifying positive ICH findings on brain scans and prioritising these patients for care. This would enable faster action by care teams on patients in need.
AI-powered care coordination tools could be the ideal mechanism to implement the newly proposed protocols. Through its triage capabilities, AI can alert relevant specialists with patient files and imaging, allowing faster detection of ICH cases and subsequent mobilisation of care coordination teams. Recent research by Petry et al. indicated that computer-aided triage and prioritisation was associated with a considerable decrease in hospital length of stay for patients diagnosed with ICH.
Hospitals that adopt AI for ICH triage might be able to treat patients more quickly and decrease the average length of a hospital stay. This would not only enhance patient outcomes, but would ease the burden on overstrained health systems. The potential of AI in standardising and improving ICH protocols is beginning to be recognised and could present a vital tool in neuro care.
