Oxford NHS trust researchers have developed an innovative AI system to improve post-surgery care for patients undergoing cataract surgery. The artificial intelligence, named Dora, was created by the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Dora interacts with patients through telephone calls, asking them questions to assess their recovery progress and identify any symptoms that may require further medical attention. Over 200 patients participated in the study, receiving a follow-up call from Dora three weeks after their cataract surgery. The AI system’s assessments were compared with those of ophthalmologists, with Dora demonstrating a high level of accuracy in determining the need for additional clinical review.
Dr. Kanmin Xue, a consultant ophthalmologist at OUH, highlighted Dora’s effectiveness in autonomously gathering essential information from patients to facilitate medical assessments. Following the successful trial, an updated version of Dora has been implemented at OUH for post-cataract surgery assessments, streamlining the patient care process.
While patients generally embraced the use of Dora, some expressed concerns about the absence of a human element in cases of complications. However, the telemedicine follow-up with Dora was found to be cost-efficient, saving approximately £35 per patient compared to standard care.
The development of Dora was supported by Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley, with Ufonia, an Oxford spin-out company responsible for its creation. Dr. Nick de Pennington, CEO of Ufonia, emphasized the AI system’s accuracy in identifying patients requiring clinical intervention, paving the way for its expansion across various eye care pathways.
Overall, the research demonstrates the significant benefits of incorporating artificial clinical intelligence like Dora in healthcare settings, enhancing patient safety, cost-efficiency, and accessibility to medical services. With its success in post-operative assessments, Dora’s application in pre-operative screenings is underway, further optimizing patient care pathways in the NHS and beyond.
