Edinburgh Hospital trials AI-powered pain assessment tech

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is leading the way as the first hospital in the UK to trial an AI-powered pain assessment tool. The PainChek app, a regulatory-cleared medical device, utilizes micro-facial expressions to help carers identify and quantify patients’ pain levels, particularly those unable to communicate verbally, such as those with dementia. This trial, part of a global partnership with InterSystems, aims to assess the viability and effectiveness of the technology in a hospital setting. The technology also has the potential to seamlessly integrate with electronic medical record systems, streamlining patient care. With a reported increase in the number of UK residential care homes using the PainChek technology, the potential impact of this AI-powered tool on patient care is significant.