Digital health has largely become a reality. Thus, in 2021 there were more than 350,000 health applications and already in 2020, 73% of public and private establishments affirmed that they were strongly committed to improving the patient journey via digital technology. “Every 75 days, the quantity of health data in the world doubles,” also recalled Dr Yann-Maël Le Douarin, head of the digital transformation department of the DGOS, during the webinar on December 16, 2024. The deployment of digital technology now provides studies and experiences showing the positive effects of using health tools. For example, patient waiting times were reduced by 30% in the Rennes University Hospital emergency room thanks to the installation of software to automatically read x-rays in the event of a suspected fracture. According to a 2024 OECD study, AI could automate up to 36% of health and social services activity and therefore free up time for caregivers. A study carried out with the Institut Curie in 2021 also demonstrated that surgical preparation is four times faster with the use of a medical image visualization tool based on virtual reality (VR), entitled DIVA.
Levers by care provider
Hence the objective of the DGOS to draw up a map of current and future uses of digital technology, including AI. “We needed this initial review to be able to know what we need to focus on or what we need to accelerate or even prepare and anticipate,” explained Yann-Maël Le Douarin. We therefore co-constructed this map with the different stakeholders: institutional, professional, federations, patient associations, industry representatives. » This work resulted in a list of care providers (health establishments and medico-social establishments or services, community care, community pharmacies, medical biology laboratories, technical platforms, etc.) – patients and research are also integrated to cartography – and digital levers. This map also lists the different components of public action implemented: strategies (for example the digital health roadmap), systems (My health space, digital prescription, etc.) and financing (Hopen 2, Ségur du digital, France 2030…).
Concerning AI, the mapping shows that it is or will be used in all sectors of the hospital and during all stages of the care pathway: reception, care activities (diagnostic and decision support, therapeutic, care pathway, patient information, security), care services and accommodation, technical platforms (interpretation and distribution of medical images, circuit improvement / process automation, etc.), logistics services, hospital pharmacy, hospital management.
An impact on the entire health system
For the DGOS, the use of AI can truly be an asset in terms of saving time and managing human resources. For example, AI can take care of the pre-coding of procedures but also the recall of patients and their follow-up, and the management of service schedules. Caregivers will then have the opportunity to have more time for their patients but will also have a better quality of life at work. AI will in fact cover all areas: administrative part, human resources management and care activities including unscheduled care. The entire healthcare system will therefore be impacted by digital technology and artificial intelligence. Another example: epidemics. According to Yann-Maël Le Douarin, digital technology makes it possible to predict epidemics and, therefore, to anticipate peaks and the human and material resources necessary to deal with them.
Many applications and uses are being deployed. Hence the usefulness of mapping to take stock knowing that it will be updated gradually. Uses of AI are currently developing in establishments without the DGOS or regional health agencies necessarily being aware of it. Hence the importance of co-construction of cartography. Another problem: that of the interoperability of different hospital information systems. Can an AI used in a particular university hospital be deployed in another university hospital? “The objective of mapping is also to have a little more visibility on what exists today and to be able to collectively ask the right questions,” answers Yann-Maël Le Douarin.
Magali Clausener
