Precision therapy

The training course The Future of Healthcare is enriched by the scientific vision of Cristina Messa, scientific director of the IRCCS Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation and full professor of Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Milan Bicocca. In her speech, the professor outlines how artificial intelligence is no longer an abstract concept, but a concrete ally already integrated into our daily lives and the healthcare system.

An enhancer of human activity

According to Messa, AI represents an unprecedented leap forward for healthcare professionals. “Artificial intelligence [...] is a formidable enhancer of human activity, both in terms of disease diagnosis and treatment”. This tool is fundamental because, to date, “it is the only tool that truly allows for precision therapy”. The ability to process massive amounts of data makes it possible to tailor the course of treatment to the unique characteristics of each individual patient.

Awareness and the “ABC” of technology

For those working in healthcare and rehabilitation, the challenge today is cultural and educational. The professor emphasises the urgency of “understanding, knowing and being aware of the use of artificial intelligence because it will be used anyway, it is already being used”.

The starting point must be knowledge of the basic principles (the ABCs of technology), understanding not only its extraordinary advantages but also its limitations, especially when the available data are insufficient to draw definite clinical conclusions.

The future of rehabilitation and predictive capabilities

In the specific field of rehabilitation, the impact of AI is already visible in the evolution of devices, from robotics to digital therapies. However, the most promising frontier concerns prevention and prognosis. Artificial intelligence will enhance the human ability to predict how a patient will respond to certain treatments. ‘This capacity for prevention is what I believe will be fundamental to the entire healthcare system of the future.’