AI technology at Weilheim Hospital saves lives

Whether it is colon, prostate or breast cancer – Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps in cancer prevention and early detection as well as planning specific treatment. Patients at Weilheim Hospital can now directly benefit from the latest research results when it comes to colon cancer screening. A story about modern medicine, generous donation and the possibility of saving lives.

Weilheim's AI: More than just an advanced DVD player

Weilheim – The AI ​​device in the modern hospital examination room in Weilheim is somewhat reminiscent of a DVD player. But here appearances are very deceiving! Thanks to high-resolution 4K images on a large screen, doctors can see the intestines in a way that was never possible before. On the other hand, doctors have high hopes of being able to save more lives with this precision.

Artificial Intelligence: A game changer in early cancer detection and treatment

“Even though we have a doctorate, we are all just people who can overlook something,” the doctor said. Jochen Dressel too. He is Chief Physician and Head of the Center for Gastroenterology in Weilheim. He enthused about the AI ​​technology in a presentation last Thursday: “Even small findings can no longer be overlooked with AI.” The AI ​​can currently access over 50,000 results, and the database is expanding and updated with each new colonoscopy finding. doctor. Dresel has been working with this technology almost every day since mid-January. The high-tech screening has now been performed on at least 50 patients.

A generous donation makes it possible: The Otto Hellmeier Foundation supports AI research

The device costs around 32,000 euros, an investment that would have been difficult for the financially struggling Weilheim Hospital. I was pleased that the Otto Hellmeier Foundation of Raisting donated the money.

The founder and namesake of the foundation, Otto Heilmayer, suffered from diabetes and throat cancer during his life. As part of the foundation's platform, the mission was to help people with cancer and support cancer prevention and prevention. “Something like this motivates us,” said foundation president Urban Scheidhauf. “Strengthening research projects and specifically combatting oncological diseases, as is the case with the AI ​​project at Weilheim, is exactly what Mr. Helmeier had hoped for.”

“This work remains challenging,” Dressel said. “But you have to imagine it in a way that with AI we have technical assistance looking over your shoulder. There is no harm in that,” he points out, “no doctor in the world has access to as much information on the subject of colon cancer as AI.” “artificial”.

High demand for AI prevention: How Weilheim handles wait times

Colon cancer prevention is now considered a success story and is in high demand among many people. Currently, outpatients at Weilheim Hospital have to wait until May for an appointment with the AI ​​technology. The goal is to reduce these waiting times to two or three weeks.

During a preventive colonoscopy, the AI ​​looks over the examiner's shoulder on a second monitor. This is trained to detect polyps and mark them on scan screens in real time. The doctor then evaluates these suspected cases and decides whether it is indeed a cancerous condition or just a false positive.