Artificial intelligence in pulmonary medicine: computer vision, predictive model and COVID-19.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare delivery. The digital revolution in medicine and healthcare information is prompting a staggering growth of data intertwined with elements from many digital sources such as genomics, medical imaging and electronic health records. Such massive growth has sparked the development of an increasing number of AI-based applications that can be deployed in clinical practice. Pulmonary specialists who are familiar with the principles of AI and its applications will be empowered and prepared to seize future practice and research opportunities. The goal of this review is to provide pulmonary specialists and other readers with information pertinent to the use of AI in pulmonary medicine. First, we describe the concept of AI and some of the requisites of machine learning and deep learning. Next, we review some of the literature relevant to the use of computer vision in medical imaging, predictive modelling with machine learning, and the use of AI for battling the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 pandemic. We close our review with a discussion of limitations and challenges pertaining to the further incorporation of AI into clinical pulmonary practice.

Sending retirees to the frontlines?

Facing an unprecedented surge of patient volumes and acuity, institutions around the globe called for volunteer healthcare workers to aid in the effort against COVID-19. Specifically being sought out are retirees. But retired healthcare workers are taking on significant risk to themselves in answering these calls. Aside from the risks that come from being on the frontlines of the epidemic, they are also at risk due to their age and the comorbidities that often accompany age. If, for current or future COVID efforts, we as a society will be so bold as to exhort a vulnerable population to take on further risk, we must use much care and attention in how we involve them in this effort. Herein we describe the multifaceted nature of the risks that retired healthcare workers are taking by entering the COVID-19 workforce as well as suggest ways in which we might take advantage of their medical skills and altruism yet while optimizing caution and safety.