How this hospital is fighting hackers with AI
By Nurfilzah Rohaidi
A private institute in Singapore uses machine learning to thwart 90% of attacks.
Image: Farrer Park Hospital
Even the food that patients can order is linked to their digital medical records, so that any restrictions can be immediately flagged. The hospital is also looking to use predictive technology in nursing services.
These kinds of services require a huge amount of data and the hospital uses artificial intelligence to protect this valuable information.
90% detection
It uses machine learning-based security tools to weed out and tackle evolving threats. “We have been able to identify users surfing the dark web, as well as misuse of internet bandwidth,” the hospital’s Chief Information Officer, James Woo has said. The AI tools that the hospital is using have a 90% detection rate of any malware or abnormal behaviour within its systems, Woo said.
“We have been able to identify users surfing the dark web, as well as misuse of internet bandwidth.”In just a few short years, attackers may very well use AI to attack organisations, he added. “I believe that the attacks of the future will become more dynamic and it's not going to be that structured. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning allows us to tackle this.”
The hospital has two different AI systems every laptop and computer in the hospital, and also its entire network.
Drop the tech jargon
The AI-driven security allows for data sharing that has become essential to how the hospital manages and treats patients. Doctors have access to a virtual desktop that they can use on their mobile phones or devices, Woo said at a health IT summit last week. The desktop allows them to view electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients, even when they are sitting in their office, or out of the country.
They can also receive real-time updates of patient tests or scans. “Nowadays, people have access to information, they want information at their fingertips,” he noted. Doctors can log into the system and input orders for medications or tests, even when overseas. “This actually turned out to be one of the best investments that we ever had,” Woo remarked.
He works closely with hospital clinicians and staff to make design tweaks, and improve the user experience of the tech systems. His top tip for ensuring people are involved? Use more accessible language and drop the tech jargon to explain the impact of these technologies. “Visualisation helps people get a better idea of the relationships between ICT and the different business units”, he has said.
Trust and engagement - both of its employees and patients - are key to this hospital’s vision.