Dr Michael Twomey
Senior Clinical Research Manager, Health Innovation Hub Ireland
Healthcare innovation is transforming patient care. Through real-world clinical evaluation, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are helping improve safety, access and efficiency across the health service.
Every healthcare system faces the challenge of delivering better care with finite resources. Innovation is part of the solution, but only when new technologies are rigorously evaluated and shown to improve outcomes for patients and clinicians. Generating robust evidence is essential to ensure innovation translates into better outcomes for patients, clinicians and the wider health service.
Turning innovation into evidence
At Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI), we work with healthcare providers, innovators, academia and industry to evaluate new technologies in real-world clinical settings. By evaluating their clinical, operational and real-world impact, we generate the evidence needed to support informed decision-making and the safe adoption of innovation across the Irish health system.
The true value of AI lies in solving real healthcare challenges
AI is one area where rigorous evaluation is becoming increasingly important. While AI offers enormous potential to enhance healthcare, its value lies in addressing genuine clinical and operational challenges rather than simply applying technology for technology’s sake.
AI solving real healthcare challenges
The latest HIHI AI Call reflects this approach, supporting innovative technologies that address priority healthcare needs. Recent projects supported through the HIHI AI Call illustrate this commitment, with AI-powered solutions improving medication safety through clinical decision support, expanding access to speech and language therapy through personalised, AI-supported interventions that can help address a range of communication challenges. Together, these innovations demonstrate how AI can enhance patient safety, improve access to care and support more efficient healthcare delivery.
Dr Michael Twomey, Senior Clinical Research Manager, Health Innovation Hub Ireland, says:”The true value of AI lies in solving real healthcare challenges. These projects have the potential to improve patient care, support clinicians and strengthen healthcare delivery. Through robust evaluation, we will generate the evidence needed to support their future adoption across the Irish health system.” As these evaluations progress, they will generate valuable evidence to help shape how AI is safely and effectively adopted across the Irish health system, ensuring innovation delivers lasting benefits for patients, clinicians and healthcare services.
