Deepclinics is a skin disease diagnosis application, built and developed by FPT Software Technology Innovation Department, and has now been in practical application. This is the first medical app in Vietnam that utilizes AI in diagnosis and treatment guidance on skin disease and open wounds using pictures of the inflicted skin area.

The hug potential of AI in healthcare

General digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in particular can finally help hospitals, organizations and medical enterprises get the highest customer satisfaction through accurate diagnosis and more detailed, the high success rate of treatment in a short time, at the same time, providing better service and convenience for both customers and service providers. Health is one of the areas with the most AI applications and the most developed, the AI is expected to completely change the health sector in the coming years. Experts said that the medical AI market grew to 50% / year, from 2.1 billion USD in 2018 is expected to reach over 36 billion USD in 2025, accounting for about 20% of the entire AI market.

More in-depth AI applications include: electronic medical records, daily beauty and health care, digital medical examination and diagnosis of heart diseases and cancer, diagnosis based on medical images, treatments, virtual nurse, medical training, and drug research. In fact, time needed for new drugs development had been quartered since AI came to use.

DeepClinics: Bringing closer life and technology

Deepclinics is the project of developing and applying artificial intelligence technology (AI) and machine learning (ML) to create a system of examination, diagnosis and health care, prevention of skin diseases. . The project was developed by Vietnam’s leading technology corporation FPT and experts in the field of AI in France and Professors of Dermatology and Wound Doctor. Mr. Pham Minh Tuan – CEO of FPT Software – a senior member of the project stated: “With the an aim to bring  this technology to life, Deepclinics will be the door to bring technology into practical applications in medical field and helping users to close the technological gap, helping the medical industry make important strides in effectively and accurately handling medical examination and treatment and optimizing resources. “

There is an important figure who laid the first foundation for the AI ​​System of DeepClinics, he is professor and doctor of mathematics, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung. He is also known as the youngest Vietnamese mathematician who became professor when he was 32 years old. The milestone was mentioned when he was the youngest person in history to win the International Mathematical Olympiad gold medal for the Vietnamese delegation when he was 14 years old. Currently GS. TS Nguyen Tien Dung teaches Mathematics at Toulouse University and is also a haut fonctionnaire – a senior civil servant in the French civil servant rank.

Applications of DeepClinics

DeepClinics application for preliminary diagnosis of disease status. Based on these results, the doctor will directly consult the injury status and provide additional advice on the treatment regimen based on the contents of the DeepClinics system export. The records of participants of the DeepClinics will be saved by the system as an electronic record for users to track during use.

DeepClinics brings online examination services that are researched and applied artificial intelligence technology to take advantage of technology:

• Preliminary diagnosis of skin diseases and skin symptoms.
• In-depth analysis of important diseases (acne, skin cancer, fungi, nails, pigmentation disorders, viruses, STDs, premature aging, etc.).
• Monitor disease progression (with examiner/self-examination multiple times).
• Proposing a treatment regimen (for doctor approval).
• Providing knowledge and information (civilization and health education).
• Acquire feedback, continually upgrade and increase efficiency and accuracy.

Dr. Dinh Van Han – Director of the wound healing department, Hanoi Burn Institute said: “Technology and artificial intelligence will bring a completely new solution, completely different from traditional medical examination and treatment methods. The process of training machine learning to get medical knowledge is a long process of research and labor. But we are extremely honored and proud to be the first Vietnamese to bring a model of AI application to medicine in the field of skin and aesthetic. If every person has medical knowledge, there will be a better society, women and even men will also be more and more beautiful thanks to artificial intelligence because we have created the most perfect AI Doctor to stand side by side with patients in general as well as those with skin problems in particular.”

Meanwhile, Assoc.Prof. Dr. Pham Hoang Kham – Dean of Dermatology Department at Military Hospital 103 shared the applications of AI in supporting the diagnosis and treatment of wounds, dermatological diseases and skin aesthetics at the ceremony: “Just based on the image of skin wound, the system can preliminarily be diagnosed and give treatment advice which is relatively accurate with wounds, many common skin diseases such as: acne, vitiligo; chicken pox. AI will help us to do these things pretty well.”

How to use the application

DeepClinics will help users save time and cost on dermatology counseling and examination. The system is available 24/7 everywhere, coupled with offline clinics full of leading medical experts. An online examination with DeepClinics is as followed:

• Users only need to take a photo of the area affected and send the captured image as instructed via the web or phone application.
• As soon as the image is received, the device will apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assess wound and make treatment recommendations based on big data.
• Big data bank is the result of many years of research by leading dermatologists in collaboration with leading AI technology experts.
• The user will immediately have results of wound statistics, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations.

Available options include:

• Users taking photos by themselves to receive diagnosis from DeepClinics’ AI doctor.
• Users interact directly with DeepClinics’ doctors via an online communication system.

In general, Deepclinics will help users save time and cost on dermatology counselling and examination. The system is available 24/7 everywhere, coupled with offline clinics full of leading medical experts. Furthermore, examination results will come at a record 30 seconds after performing the required steps, and user’s data will be kept with the utmost confidentiality. All in all, patients can now have medical examinations anytime they want with just a smartphone, where they can receive advices and treatments from Deepclinics’ leading medical experts – with online functions all completely free.

At the moment, the acne diagnosis function has been fully completed, with high accuracy as per clinical results. Other diagnosis modules on skin diseases and wounds is expected to be tested and finalized in 2020

DeepClinics expects to improve the quality of life of every Vietnamese in the field of dermatology in particular and the health sector in general. Currently Deep Clinics clinic facility in Hanoi: No. 4, NV3, Van Quan, Ha Dong (at the end of Nguyen Khuyen street).

Ryan Hoang

FPT Tech Insight