Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ghent start-up Squire developed innovative software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create automatic consultation reports for general practitioners (GPs).
Co-founder Stan Callewaert emphasises the goal of this technology, stating,
“In this way, we want to halve the time that general practitioners spend on administration.”
This initiative seeks to reduce the administration tail that GPs are facing so they can give their full attention to their patients. In Flanders, GPs are obliged to register patient consultations, and with 20 to 30 patient consultations per day, the time spent on this paperwork can become considerable.
The Ghent start-up Squire has readied AI software to automate GP consultation reports in hopes of decreasing administrative burdens and improving patient care. The pilot project is underway, and an early version of the trial is available to Flemish doctors; privacy is addressed. Squire’s new software now records the conversations between a doctor and their patients from a microphone placed in the consultation room.
Callewaert explains,
“The tool will analyse the conversation in order to automatically generate the report that the GP has to write.”
That means that GPs will have to just add any other takes instead of writing the entire report. For several months, a pilot project of 9 GPs has been running fine, and all Flemish doctors can use the beta software free of charge. The long-term vision entails using this tool to augment everyday practice by integrating it into the electronic patient file.
Privacy is a high priority in any technology handling private patient data.
“User understands that patient’s permission is needed to record any consultations and that we comply with all privacy and GDPR regulations,”
Said Callewaert.
“Everything is always end-to-end encrypted, and no personal data is stored,”
He affirms.
The conviction about data protection is consistent with what Karel Strobbe of the Ghent General Practitioners Association has to say:
“The only real concern that we have is privacy and data protection. That’s a very important point of attention.”
Strobbe also feels cautiously optimistic about applying AI to healthcare systems, saying if these systems can ensure more efficient care of patients or less administrative load for GPs, it might help.
What drives the need for innovation in GP practices?
This increased level of administrative workload borne by the general practitioner has also been a growing concern for healthcare systems in Europe. As most GPs devote over a quarter of their work time to administrative duties, there is an imperative need for measures that make these processes run as stress-free as possible. This is a huge step in the right direction when it comes to tackling this issue: the introduction of AI-powered tools like Squire’s. These technologies not only save time but also automate routine documentation; they also make the delivery of healthcare more efficient.
Healthcare professionals in Belgium are exposed to increased pressures as patient volumes rise and regulatory requirements tighten, and software innovations like Squire’s could revolutionise the way day-to-day is run. Another reason for more efficient practices is the potential of incorporation of AI into electronic health records. With the progressive evolution of healthcare technology, it is all-important to ensure patient data security and privacy. If such tools can be successfully implemented, the door it might open for wider acceptance of AI as a practice would mean better patient care while reducing some of the frustrations healthcare providers face.
What’s more, as more start-ups explore AI solutions in health care, collaboration between tech innovators and medical practitioners will become a must. This is a potential partnership between the two groups to refine tools such as Squire’s software to meet the needs of practitioners and comply with stringent regulatory requirements. Stakeholders are waiting for AI to play a role on the frontiers of healthcare efficiency and quality in Europe with ongoing pilot projects and trials.
