The neonatal intensive care team adopts wearables and technology to safeguard the transferring of infant referrals (Photo by Cathay Genera Hospital)
Located in the heart of Taipei, Cathay General Hospital (CGH) and its subsidiaries, Cathay Life Insurance and Cathay Health Management, have embarked on a medical technology journey that is beginning to bear fruit. Recently, CGH unveiled its refinements in neonatal care and cardiovascular disease diagnosis, with the aim that the hospital's delivery model will be adopted by more healthcare facilities.
Wearable Devices and IoT Technology Safeguard Urgent Infant Referrals
According to the 2021 Taiwan Birth Registration, 10.61% or one in ten babies were born prematurely (less than 37 weeks). Some preterm babies require advanced care and may be transferred to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). As inter- or intra-hospital transport can be risky, factors such as acute complications, the time it may take, unexpected situations caused by facilities and communication can all increase the level of complexity and compromise safety.
Since 2003, Cathay General Hospital has operated an emergency service for neonates referred from other healthcare facilities. In 2017, CGH contracted with nearby hospitals to promote its referral system for preterm and critically ill newborns, and the following year coordinated a team specifically responsible for referrals. In 2018 alone, CGH received 241 referrals, an increase of 180% from the previous year. CGH's referral system now manages more than 200 babies per year, and its reach has expanded to 43 medical institutions in northern and eastern Taiwan.
CGH’s referral system has netted silver medal in the SNQ Award under the medical quality category and a gold medal in the APSAA Award.
The referral system uses devices incl. an incubator connected to monitors, ventilators and cameras, allowing for real-time assessment during transportation (Photo by CGH)
As a tertiary referral hospital, CGH has introduced the "Comprehensive e-Service for Newborn Referral" to ensure that its referral protocol is followed smoothly yet efficiently. With 5G and IoT technologies connected wearable devices and a camera placed in the incubator, the team responsible for transportation is able to share vital signs and real-time images with those standing by in the NICU, who can get a full picture of the incoming referral simultaneously.
For the safety of baby referrals and the best possible coordination during the course of transfer, CGH is pleased to be able to offer its neonatal referral service to hospitals that are qualified to handle urgent cases. Going forward, the service may as well be duplicated regarding emergency medicine.
The referral service combines with 5G and IoT, allowing remote monitoring and real-time communication (Photo by CGH)
AI-powered Aortic Screening and Lung Nodule Detection
Cathay General Hospital has partnered with aetherAI to offer low-dose CT (LDCT) screening with AI technology for aortic and lung nodule detection. The results of LDCT scans will be analysed by the AI screening system to help identify potential lesions for subsequent treatment.
The system, dubbed as astherAI | LDCT, is an advanced medical imaging system featuring high-resolution and high-sensitivity, generating results in just 20 seconds. The system automatically segments high-risk pulmonary nodules and returns with further details. Since its launch in August 2021, the system has recorded more than 30,000 AI-generated data on lung nodules, with a sensitivity of 96.4% for nodules larger than 6 mm.
Both parties have also developed the first in-house AI-based automated alert system based on abnormal LDCT images, which estimates the aortic diameter and finds the maximum diameter of the aorta. The system uses a traffic light concept, where an aortic diameter greater than 4 cm is considered abnormal (yellow light) and an aortic aneurysm greater than 5 cm is considered an aortic aneurysm (red light), and the AI calculates the result and automatically sends a text message to the radiologist.
Currently, both systems have been implemented at Cathay General Hospital and its branch in Hsinchu. CGH and its partner, aetherAI, are constantly seeking clinical feedback on the AI model, which is being optimised in the meantime.
The AI-assisted detection of lung nodules segments a lesion that can be viewed from different angles (Photo by CGH)
★★★More by Cathay General Hospital
◎Diagnostic App for Dysarthria in Children
Dysarthria in children can be classified as either organic (structural organ defects, hearing impairment) or functional dysarthria. This app uses AI to help speech therapists quickly screen children for speech disorders, match them with follow-up treatment plans, and provide parents with online speech therapy information to best achieve the quality and efficiency of speech therapy and assessment.
◎Intelligent Radiology Workflow
The improved intelligent radiology workflow automates several steps on the checklist with time efficiency and accuracy. When images are uploaded to the PACS, this workflow system synchronises the assignment to the on-duty radiologist, who collects and interprets images according to pre-scheduled shifts. The time required is significantly reduced compared to a manually managed workflow, and image reports are available sooner than before.
◎Cathay Pacific Medical Team's Innovative Research and Development - Precision Probiotics
Although there are many probiotics to choose from, the probiotic strains contained in these products may not be beneficial to everyone. Drawing on years of clinical experience from gastroenterologists and paediatricians, as well as research into probiotics in the intestinal tract, CGH has developed formulas that clearly state what they are made from, offering a new choice of health food for those who want to increase the good bacteria in the body.
B2B Opportunities with Cathay General Hospital
AI in Healthcare
| Products/Solutions | Partnership wanted |
|---|---|
| AI-powered screening of main artery and detection for lung nodule | Product development; licensing |
| Diagnostic app for dysarthria in children | Product development; licensing |
Digital Health
| Products/Solutions | Partnership wanted |
|---|---|
| Referral e-service for newborns | Service promotion & delivery |
| Intelligent radiology workflow | Service promotion & delivery |
Innovative R&D
| Products/Solutions | Partnership wanted |
|---|---|
| Probiotics | Product development; licensing |
Cathay General Hospital at Healthcare+ Expo 2023
- Thursday, 30 November to Sunday, 3 December
- Booth No. I616 | 1F, TaiNEX 1