Dr. Gregory Moore - a technology leader, engineer, radiologist, neuroradiologist, clinical informaticist, neuroscientist, and a fellow at Stanford University Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging (AIMI) recently accepted the invitation of VinBrain's CEO to visit Vietnam and VinBrain.

As a global health tech leader whose innovative ideas have transformed medical technology to improve patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and enabled access to quality care, he presented an insightful, inspirational fireside chat with all VinBrain employees on the impact of AI on healthcare.

He shared his view that AI will become a ubiquitous assistant across the global healthcare system in the coming years, providing personalized treatment recommendations and improving patient outcomes. He also discussed how AI may help reduce healthcare costs and how it can be used to improve healthcare delivery and create much needed access to care in developing countries.

Technology is the key enabler to access to care

Dr. Moore started his talk by emphasizing that there is an urgent to improve access to healthcare globally, including in radiology and medical imaging. “There is even more sense of urgency in Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia where there is a very significant shortage of providers " he said.

Radiologists are among the first to evaluate the clinical situation of the patient, providing diagnosis and often a prognosis to guide for medical treatment." Once you have a diagnosis, you can lean on it in treatment", Dr. Moore emphasized. "The number of images produced worldwide is mind-blowing. Unfortunately, there aren't enough radiologists to interpret those images and provided insights & diagnoses."

As he recalled his working days as a radiologist, a typical shift was 10-11 hours a day, with less than 1 second per image when reviewing CT and MRI scans.  The workload is massive and increasing for providers. It happens everywhere, and most transparently seen during the outbreak of COVID-19 as healthcare workers around the world became overwhelmed by long shifts and demoralized by the situation, many suffering burnout. "Those providing care were extremely busy, often preoccupied with daily events and unable to see a way out of the current medical crisis. Technology provides a much-needed solution to show that things can be different."

Where many misperceive AI or machines would replace doctors and radiologists, Dr. Moore said it was entirely the wrong view. On the contrary, they remove much of the mundane work that needs to be done by the healthcare workforce. "Computers can handle a lot and don't get tired", he explained. 

Indeed, the appropriate application if AI can reduce healthcare costs and improve the accuracy and speed of diagnoses. Dr. Moore quoted from Prof. Curtis Langlotz, Director of Stanford AIMI: "radiologists who don't use AI will be replaced by radiologists that do use AI". AI Technology has the potential to multiply the productivity not only of a radiologist, but all healthcare providers to empower them to provide care to many more individuals in need, creating much needed access to care. He concluded that AI will be an assistant for medical professionals in saving lives, and a key enabler for patients worldwide to access quality healthcare.

AI is the future of healthcare

"Healthcare is embracing technology to better care for patients and to address provider burnout. I am inspired by how VinBrain has promptly responded to the urgent need by navigating barriers, moving fast with agility, and adopting the next gen technology to deliver positive impact to the healthcare ecosystem in Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia, and now recently to the US with their first FDA approval", Dr. Moore commented as he had the opportunity to review VinBrain’s technical capabilities and collaborative endeavors with global technology companies and research institutes. He described VinBrain as a “health tech trailblazer who creates a momentum that is contagious.”

He went on to telemedicine in the recent past, in the US and globally: "It was just this tiny fraction of 1% of visits before COVID-19 and for a long time, and over the initial nine months after COVID-19 wake-up call, it became 50% of all healthcare encounters”, to exemplify the potential of AI solutions soon becoming a familiar part of the healthcare sector as people start to recognize the power of this technology, similar to telemedicine.

He also shared his view that AI will be a disruptor to the traditional Patient-Physician relationship.  With the inclusion of AI in clinical encounters, he envisions a triad relationship, or 3-way conversation between patients – physicians – and AI Assistants will be the new normal, allowing patients to be more engaged in their care with the help of a capable AI assistant with which they can have ongoing access in their daily healthcare journey rather than episodic care during an office or hospital visit.

 "We are entering an age of AI assistants"- Dr. Moore shared, “with the potential to bring great good across the world and elevate the human condition. This will likely bring tremendous societal change, which will happen across every domain, including healthcare”.

The patient's best interest is the only interest that matters

To end the insightful and inspirational talk, Dr. Moore shared with all VinBrain employees a quote from William Mayo (Surgeon and Founder of Mayo Clinic) which has guided his own work in medicine and healthcare technology, "The patients' best interest is the only interest that matters.", Dr. Moore added, “Make sure you get it right for the patients with the AI technology you are building and delivering, and then everything else will follow in line".

Dr.Gregory Moore with all VinBrainers in Hanoi Office

In addition to his talk, Dr. Greg had several working sessions with VinBrain’s key management and provided valuable advice and insights. He also took the time to experience the local cuisine, walked the old quarter, and was very impressed with the culture and people of Hanoi. In addition, he spent time visiting a few hospitals and meet with physicians (in Hanoi and rural areas) to witness how AI health tech is being applied by doctors and clinicians throughout Vietnam including addressing the ongoing global epidemic of Tuberculosis (TB related deaths in Southeast Asia are >500,000 people/year and globally 1.5 million/year).

The VinBrain family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Gregory Moore for his invaluable contributions during his time in Vietnam. We look forward to welcoming him back many times in the future. We hope that he thoroughly enjoyed his experiences during his stay with us.