Artificial intelligence advising on X-ray diagnoses in SA Medical Imaging

AI is giving advice on chest X-rays diagnoses in a national first as SA Medical Imaging uses the technology to “spell check” diagnoses and suggest options.

Artificial intelligence is riding shotgun on radiology diagnoses of chest X-rays at South Australian Medical Imaging (SAMI) sites across the state.

The statewide rollout is an Australian first in public health imaging.

The AI assistance provided by Australian tech company Annalise.ai has been described as a “spell check” for chest X-rays and will identify areas of interest in chest images and suggest a potential diagnosis, helping radiologists assess options.

Chest X-rays taken using the help of AI at SA Medical Imaging.

But the bots are not taking over – radiologists will review all suggested diagnoses and make the final decision on further treatment options.

The analysis software has been introduced across all SAMI sites, including six metropolitan and four regional hospitals, which offer comprehensive medical imaging for inpatients, outpatients and emergency department patients at no out-of-pocket cost.

SAMI clinical director, Associate Professor Marc Agzarian, said the integration of Annalise.ai’s technology is an “exciting step forward in advancing patient care.”

SA Medical Imaging Clinical Director Associate Professor Marc Agzarian.

Annalise.ai chief executive Dr Aengus Tran.

“This technology seamlessly combines our clinical expertise with sophisticated AI, allowing us to deliver even more precise diagnoses,” he said.

“The intuitive design of the solution, which includes localised findings and a confidence score, supports our clinicians in making informed decisions.”

Annalise.ai co-founder and chief executive Dr Aengus Tran said the company “fuses the highest quality imaging data with the best in computer science to produce comprehensive AI clinical decision support solutions.”

“We are proud to partner with South Australia Medical Imaging. This technology acts as a second reader for scans, providing clinicians with an added layer of confidence,” he said.

“This collaboration marks a significant milestone for both Australia and our company. SAMI is the first public radiology provider in the country to implement AI statewide, and as an Australian-founded company, it’s deeply rewarding to see technology developed by our team directly benefit our local community.”

SAMI’s team of more than 1200 professionals, including specialist radiologists and radiographers, conducts about 700,000 radiology examinations each year.

Originally published as Artificial intelligence advising on X-ray diagnoses in SA Medical Imaging