INTERVIEW 'AI improves quality of medical services'
Kim Kyung-nam, CEO of SELVAS AI / Courtesy of SELVAS AI
Tech firm develops medical transcription system based on deep learning
By Jun Ji-hye
The medical and healthcare sector is one of the areas where ICT convergence has been actively realized worldwide, making it possible to offer remote healthcare services for senior citizens and perform surgery through robots.
Furthermore, artificial intelligence (AI) has enabled the early detection of diseases, which helps doctors improve their medical services, and reduces patients' medical expenses, said Kim Kyung-nam, CEO of SELVAS AI, in a recent interview with The Korea Times.
According to Indiana University, doctors can improve their diagnosis by 41.9 percent when an AI algorithm is utilized, while patients can reduce their medical expenses by 58.5 percent, Kim said.
In an effort to contribute to improving healthcare, which has a huge influence on people's lives, SELVAS AI, a Seoul-based AI company, has developed Selvy MediVoice, a comprehensive medical transcription system providing voice recording, auto text conversion and easy correction.
“We have cooperated with Severance Hospital for the past three years for the deep learning of medical terms for each department in order to develop Selvy MediVoice, equipped with the voice recognition engine,” Kim said.
The Selvy MediVoice was commercialized at Severance Hospital in October.
A staffer of SELVAS AI demonstrates the Selvy MediVoice that enables doctors' voices to be converted into text files in real time and saved as electronic medical records automatically. / Courtesy of SELVAS AI
Previously, doctors or assistants had to convert various voice data, generated while doctors were interpreting radiographic images and having conversations with medical practitioners, into text files by typing it up on their own. Then, they had to save the files to create electronic medical records (EMR), which required a final check from doctors.
“When a hospital used this process, it usually took seven days on average to create the EMR,” Kim said. “Selvy MediVoice, based on a deep learning algorithm, enables doctors' voices to be converted into text files in real time and saved as EMRs automatically. Doctors do not need to waste their time creating medical records. Instead, they will be able to offer their patients better medical services.”
Selvy MediVoice trains itself based on the voice data from medical staff, providing a voice recognizer optimized for each member, the company said, noting that the system automatically filters out unnecessary parts such as patient speech, and only records that of the medical staff. The system detects parts requiring correction, which helps save correction time, the firm added.
“The system will also help reduce medical disputes caused by errors in medical records and prevent recently emerging issues such as sexual harassment in operating rooms and so-called ghost surgeries,” Kim said.
The radiology unit of Fatima Hospital in Daegu also uses Selvy MediVoice, Kim said, noting his firm is currently conducting joint research and trial services in cooperation with large hospitals to diversify the deep learning-based medical transcription system, optimized for surgery and medical treatment and consultation.
In early 2017, SELVAS AI released Selvy Checkup, an AI-based disease forecast service.
The system utilizes information from patients' regular checkups, forecasting their chances of diabetes, cardiac disorders, stroke and cancer.
“We began to conduct research to develop Selvy Checkup in 2016 with leading experts in each area,” Kim said. “SELVAS AI made an active investment into the research and development to optimize AI machine learning. Medical staff at the Severance Hospital gave medical advice and carried out verification of the system, which helped the system offer more reliable results.”
Selvy Checkup received the CES 2018 Innovations Awards in recognition of its creativity and innovation.
Kim said his firm continues to improve Selvy Checkup services by advancing its engines.
“When hospitals, health examination centers or healthcare service firms utilize Selvy Checkup, they will be able to offer more customized services and systematic management for their customers,” he said.
Kim stressed that SELVAS AI possesses the top pattern recognition technologies of handwriting, image and voice through research on cutting-edge deep learning technology.
Other than the medical sector, the company's AI technology has been adopted to diverse industries such as smart cars and home IoT devices.
Sales related to AI technology account for about 45 percent of the entire sales of the KOSPI-listed company, he added.
Making inroads into global market
SELVAS AI is striving to become a global AI technology provider, working to expand its presence on the global scene.
Kim said his firm has already entered the Japanese market with Selvy Checkup, noting that companies in Japan have been, or are considering, adopting the system.
Notably, SELVAS AI joined hands with Japan's leading mobile carrier KDDI to take Selvy Checkup to the Japanese market.
“We have registered with the KDDI IoT Cloud API Market,” Kim said.
The KDDI IoT Cloud API Market is an open market place for the Application Program Interface (API) that helps developers easily utilize software technology to develop new services.
When SELVAS AI opens the API of Selvy Checkup there, Japanese firms will be able to utilize it to develop new products and services, and this will generate attention from Japan's insurance industry, Kim said.
Kim added that beauty and healthcare companies in Japan have also adopted Selvy Checkup to manage the health of their employees.
“We have confirmed chances of expanding our business in the Japanese market further,” he said. “To secure more clients, we have participated in healthcare exhibitions taking place in Japan about twice a year.”
The company is also gearing up to expand its presence in the global market by exploring business meeting opportunities with overseas partners in cooperation with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Kim said.
“We have obtained patents in and outside the nation, and received several awards in the global exhibitions, including the CES 2018 Innovations Awards,” he said. “I believe this helps us prove our innovation in the global market.
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