WellPoint, IBM to Use Watson Supercomputer to Diagnose Patients
Posted on September 13, 2011
WellPoint, Inc. and IBM announced plans to create the first commercial applications of the IBM Watson technology. Watson, named after IBM founder Thomas J. Watson, is a computing system that appeared on Jeopardy earlier this year. Watson competed and won against two of the most celebrated players ever to appear on the show.
Watson's ability to analyze the meaning and context of human language, and quickly process vast amounts of information, will be used to suggest options targeted to a patient's circumstance. WellPoint and IBM believe Watson can assist decision makers, such as physicians and nurses, in identifying the most likely diagnosis and treatment options for their patients. Watson will be loaded with the latest research findings and test results as well as patient medical histories.
Sam Nussbaum, M.D., WellPoint's Chief Medical Officer, says, "There are breathtaking advances in medical science and clinical knowledge, however; this clinical information is not always used in the care of patients. Imagine having the ability to take in all the information around a patient's medical care -- symptoms, findings, patient interviews and diagnostic studies. Then, imagine using Watson analytic capabilities to consider all of the prior cases, the state-of-the-art clinical knowledge in the medical literature and clinical best practices to help a physician advance a diagnosis and guide a course of treatment. We believe this will be an invaluable resource for our partnering physicians and will dramatically enhance the quality and effectiveness of medical care they deliver to our members."
WellPoint anticipates employing Watson technology in early 2012, working with select physician groups in clinical pilots.