Ground-breaking AI innovation for emergency care assessment

A pioneering AI technology designed to speed up patient care through improved assessment in the emergency department is currently being trialled at the Royal London Hospital (RLH) as part of a groundbreaking collaboration between Bingli, Barts Health and Barts Life Sciences (BLS).

Emergency Departments (ED) are under significant pressure, with the four-hour wait time target consistently missed. BLS is at the forefront of addressing this challenge by testing a revolutionary AI differential diagnostic tool, developed by Belgian company Bingli. The work is funded in part by a Royal College of Emergency Medicine grant.

This innovative tool aims to streamline the assessment process, enabling quicker diagnostic planning and diagnoses, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing ED waiting times.

Adult patients who agree to join the trial will use the Bingli tool on their smartphones whilst waiting in the ED. They will be sent an SMS, invited to complete a consent form and then taken to the survey, which takes 2-7 minutes to complete.

Each possible diagnosis in the Bingli system has a list of related tests. These are compared with the tests done in the ED to see how automating the ordering of some tests might help. There’s also an ongoing study to gather patients’ opinions of this tool.

BLS will leverage its data science expertise to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the trial, ensuring a rigorous evaluation of the AI tool’s performance on suggesting diagnostic tests and final diagnosis. This includes comparison of the tool’s effectiveness of advice on diagnostic testing, compared with the clinical diagnosis reference standard, for patients admitted to ED. It will also be compared against the clinical care and diagnosis delivered for patients in the ED.

Dr Sophie Williams, Lead Data Scientist at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “By streamlining the process of gathering patient information, which is often time-consuming and inefficient, the tool has the potential to significantly reduce triage times. This is crucial as quicker triage can lead to faster treatment, better clinical outcomes, and improved patient experiences.”

The trial, led by ED consultant Dr. Ben Bloom, is the first of its kind in the UK, as the accuracy and applicability of a digital solution have not previously been tested in a prospective, consented clinical study within a UK emergency department. It began in November 2023 and will run until 3,000 patients are recruited, expected imminently.

Dr Bloom said: “Artificial intelligence is emerging as a crucial tool in helping clinicians provide timely and high-quality care for patients. To earn the trust of both patients and medical staff, AI must demonstrate its value in clinical settings. Working with BLS, we are leveraging our expertise to ensure that these innovative tools become reliable and accepted components of medical assessments.”

BLS is dedicated to the rapid translation of cutting-edge research into real-world solutions, significantly improving patient outcomes and reducing health inequalities. Their team of data scientists and health-tech experts collaborate with clinicians, industry and academic partners to drive high-value innovations that predict, prevent, diagnose and treat health conditions. Serving a diverse community, BLS has the unique ability to transform health outcomes not just locally, but nationally and globally.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for national NHS A&E services had been growing. In 2023/24, UK A&E attendances were 5% higher than pre-pandemic levels. In May 2024 alone, almost 25,000 patients were seen across Barts Health NHS Trust’s ED departments.

The NHS aims for 78% of people to be admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours by March 2025. By contributing to this goal, the Bingli trial represents a significant step towards addressing the urgent need for improved triaging processes in emergency departments.

If successful, the Bingli tool could be adapted for use in other clinics and hospitals, helping to create a more efficient, patient-centred healthcare system.

Tom Van De Putte, Co-founder and CEO of Bingli, added: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Barts Health NHS Trust and Barts Life Sciences to pioneer the integration of AI in emergency medicine.

 “This novel implementation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to enhancing health outcomes through cutting-edge, patient-centric technology. Together with the talented team of collaborators, we’re trailblazing to cement Barts’ position at the forefront of medical innovation. Not only by advancing healthcare service delivery, but also by setting a new standard in emergency service transformation.”