Kate McAlpine, Michigan Engineering • February 12, 2025
Imagine a van that feels like a doctor’s office. It has AI technology to assist medical professionals in providing care. This innovative mobile clinic could change healthcare access, especially in rural areas where hospitals are far away.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is funding this project, with the University of Michigan leading the design of the AI system. The goal is simple: make healthcare available to those who need it, no matter where they live.
Before the crisis in rural hospitals, people in remote areas often struggled to get medical care. Now, this mobile clinic could bring medical help directly into communities. Just think of a future where healthcare professionals are equipped with real-time AI support, ready to handle various medical situations on the spot.
Jason Corso, project director and U-M professor, explained, “Our aim is to take the hospital to people in need, whether that’s in a church parking lot or someone’s backyard.” For many, their nearest medical center might be a long drive away, making timely care difficult.
This mobile clinic can help lower healthcare costs by reducing the need for multiple facilities. With AI support, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can perform more advanced procedures safely. The AI would learn from each encounter, adapting to the needs of both patients and medical staff over time.
ARPA-H has earmarked up to $25 million for this project, bringing together a diverse team of specialists from eight universities and RTX BBN Technologies. This collaborative effort includes various components to develop the mobile clinic effectively.
Key features of the project include:
- Connecting data from the clinic with patient health records.
- Creating a miniaturized CT scanner for imaging on the go.
- Building a prototype of the mobile clinic itself.
In the early stages, the team will test their AI system in a stationary clinic designed like the proposed mobile unit. This step will help them refine the AI agent before it hits the road.
This AI system is built on previous work where Corso’s team applied AI to various tasks, like cooking and medical training for soldiers. The aim now is for the AI to support everyday healthcare workers, guiding them through complex procedures.
The team is breaking the project down into manageable parts. The technical group will create models that represent medical tasks and patient interactions. Their goal is to design an AI that not only assists medical professionals but also adapts to unexpected situations, including changes in a patient’s condition.
Understanding emotions is equally important. The AI will learn to recognize when a healthcare worker may be stressed or overwhelmed, allowing it to adjust its support accordingly.
The medical team is responsible for training the AI. They’ll gather data to ensure the AI provides accurate diagnoses and performs tasks correctly. They will also offer guidance on emergency care, laying the foundation for the AI to function efficiently.
Eventually, the AI will be tested in clinical settings to gather feedback from both healthcare providers and patients. The project promises to transform how care is delivered in rural areas, making it more accessible and efficient.
