How far along are you with the development?
Antweiler: We first discussed the requirements for a solution with several doctors and created an initial design. We then went on to develop the data basis and train the AI. We are currently comparing different architectural approaches and are developing the software interface and the connection to the hospital information system in parallel. Next year, we will be testing a prototype at Essen University Hospital.
What does your team's research work look like?
Antweiler: The large team consists of medical, nursing and administrative staff from the hospital as well as experts from IT and economics. Together, we identify requirements, define development plans, discuss model results and plan implementation on site.
Do you also encounter reservations about your research project, for example in terms of data protection?
Antweiler: There are many important points that we receive in discussions with hospital staff and integrate into the development. These include the accuracy and security of the data, compliance with privacy and much more. It is particularly important to them that existing processes are not disrupted by newly introduced tools or that this results in additional documentation work.
When can we expect the market launch of the doctor's letter generator?
Antweiler: We want to have the doctor's letter generator up and running at Essen University Hospital by the end of 2024.
Where else could NLP be useful in everyday clinical practice?
Antweiler: NLP can be used wherever a lot of texts are written or read. This includes the evaluation of documents brought in by patients, the evaluation of radiology, pathology or laboratory findings, the integration of medical guidelines into treatment and even simplified billing.
In this context, it is important for me to emphasize that the results of AI systems are a support in everyday work and should be interpreted as an additional "helping hand", so to speak. Humans always have the final say in their use, should check the content and can change and adapt it in any case. In a nutshell: AI is there to make people's day-to-day work easier.