Reinforce Otolaryngologists

In the foreseeable future, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to significantly influence biomedical research and the field of medicine. Otolaryngologists play a pivotal role as key contributors to the advancement and effective integration of meaningful AI technologies, ultimately enhancing patient care. The imperative for the successful development of AI technologies lies in the acquisition of high-quality data, urging otolaryngologists to engage in collaborations with data scientists, guiding them toward addressing clinically impactful questions. It is worth noting that AI is not intended to replace physicians but rather to enhance their capabilities. As AI rapidly evolves, Dr. Matthew Crowson from Harvard Medical School told ENT today that he predicts AI will be part of otolaryngology clinical workflows in the U.S. within two to three years.
Here at the UC Irvine Otolaryngology, we are leading a series of projects on the application of novel machine learning algorithms on clinical decision support. We have created statistical and mathematical models for predicting recurrence following vestibular schwannoma treatment, predicting length of hospitalization and discharge disposition following complex head and neck surgery, predicting post-thyroidectomy outcomes, and classifying otoscopic images based on the predicted diagnoses. In addition to creating novel machine learning algorithms, we have also published respective open-source interfaces (e.g., websites) where the predictive models can be tested in real-time by any user. For instance, the latter three projects’ algorithms are also accompanied by websites were hypothetical patient information or otoscopic images can be uploaded and the algorithm will provide predictions.