This similar essay is based on a conversation with Dr. Shravan Verma, co-founder and CEO of Speedoc, a Singapore-based health technology startup. This interview has been compiled for length and clarity.
As someone who worked in both tertiary hospitals and underserved environments, I saw the opportunity to start from home and create a virtual hospital that directly brings health care to where patients are.
Why should access to hospital-grade care be dependent on geography and infrastructure? The home will become a new care center and AI will become an invisible infrastructure that will allow for this shift.
The more refined AI software and the more accessible AI-enabled hardware, the more personalized attention.
We believe that the future of home care is hybrid, with AI-enabled self-care tools integrated into regulated human-involved systems.
Singapore and the region are more prepared than we think. In Singapore, strong policy coordination and public trust are already seen in its digital systems. Even the patient's mindset is matured around receiving care outside of traditional hospitals.
Embedded AI
AI is already the fundamental layer of our operation. Our command centers use AI to triage patient cases, optimize logistics for clinician dispatch, and even predict risks of escalation.
For example, AI models continuously analyze data from devices such as pulse oximeters, BP monitors, and even passive sensors. If a patient's vitals begin to be at risk, the clinician will be warned before degradation begins. This prevented the emergency room visit.
The next stage is to use AI to predictive care, orchestration, preemptive measures for chronic patient degradation, automating routine follow-ups, and ultimately building clinician AI co-pilots.
Clinicians hope that the system will support the work and not slow down work.
Our nurses and doctors are looking for tools that will reduce the burden on administrators, make triage smarter and give more practical insights.
Patients are becoming more and more comfortable with these digital touchpoints, but they want to feel personalised and intelligent.
Clinicians are transformed, not replaced by AI
AI transforms, but not replaces, the role of clinicians, especially in home environments.
Related Stories
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
Their roles become more relevant as AI simplifies documentation and supports better decision-making.
AI cannot replicate existence, empathy, and subtle judgments in uncertain or complex conditions. They can't talk to their families and can't understand what's best for their patients.
ai can tell you – the worst case scenario – you have a heart attack, so what do you do about it?
I know I have a heart attack diagnosis, but I need to be sent to the hospital immediately. Ensure that the stent is held and obtain catheterization.
You also need to ensure continuity, ensure treatment and follow-up management, and make sure the patient is improving as expected. Many of the conditions we treat at home also require IV drips, IV antibiotics, blood tests, and urine tests.
Leading with results, not AI
Chatbots and AI tools can handle first mile care, but they must escalate to a qualified professional if necessary.
We need to be vigilant about bias in training data, and sometimes there is a lack of contextual nuance to understand what a patient's condition is.
One of the key challenges of AI is AI that devises analysis or data that were not present in patients. Governance, transparency and auditability must be burned into every AI deployment.
When it comes to AI-driven home care, the key is not to lead with AI, but to have results and convenience. Patients don't really ask, “Is this an AI?” They ask, “Is this faster, safer, more personalized?”
When AI helps patients get triage within minutes, or when nurses can use the right medication to show up at the right time, it gives rise to confidence.
The real lock is to make sure that AI doesn't replace human touch, it's always transparent, empathetic, and constantly augmented.
Are there any stories to share about AI in Healthcare? Please contact this reporter at cmlee@insider.com.
