Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries, and healthcare is at the forefront of this transformation. From predictive analytics to continuous patient monitoring, AI-powered systems are personalising healthcare delivery in new ways. Dozee, a medical tech startup, co-founded by Mudit Dandwate, an engineer-turned-entrepreneur, provides contactless remote patient monitoring system so doctors and nurses can be better informed about their patients’ health.

Dandwate’s transition to healthcare is unique. A graduate of IIT Bombay with a passion for race cars, he designed India’s first electric race car and honed his skills in telemetry and sensor analytics. His journey took a life-changing turn when a family member’s near-fatal experience with sepsis highlighted gaps in continuous patient monitoring. 

“We monitor every aspect of a car’s health, but human lives often lack similar attention,” he remarked during an interview on The Interface, The Hindu’s podcast.

That realisation led him to build Dozee, an AI-powered system that provides contactless, real-time monitoring of vital signs, like heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure. Leveraging the latest advances in AI and sensor technology, Dozee aims to prevent medical emergencies by alerting healthcare professionals to signs of deterioration up to 16 hours in advance.

Technology behind personalisation

AI-driven systems like Dozee are revolutionising patient care through personalised insights. By integrating with hospital electronic health records (EHR), Dozee adapts its monitoring parameters to each patient’s unique needs. For instance, a post-surgery cardiac patient may require more focus on heart rhythm irregularities, while a stroke patient’s posture and movement patterns are critical in preventing pressure ulcers.

Dandwate describes this adaptability as key to the future of healthcare. “Every patient is different. The system learns from their baseline data, adjusting its analysis to highlight significant deviations,” he explained.

It doesn’t just stop at personalisation. This type of medical technology also has the potential to widen the coverage of healthcare. “Today, only about 20-30% of the population has access to quality healthcare,” said Dandwate. “With systems like Dozee, we can extend care to remote areas and under-resourced hospitals.”

Dozee is already operational in over 300 hospitals in India and 26 in the U.S. with a mission to make continuous monitoring ubiquitous.

Challenges facing predictive AI

Despite its promise, predictive AI systems face challenges like false positives. Dandwate acknowledges these limitations, emphasising the importance of a “human-in-the-loop” approach. 

“AI can flag potential issues, but decisions and interventions remain the clinician’s responsibility,” he said.

Dandwate pointed out that clinical trials have validated Dozee’s efficacy, with studies reporting a 95% accuracy rate in predicting critical health events and significant reductions in adverse outcomes like “code blue” incidents.

Preventive care and the road ahead

As AI’s influence extends beyond hospital wards, Dandwate sees immense potential in personalised wellness technologies focusing on nutrition, mental health, and sleep. He believes the key to holistic health lies in understanding one’s body and habits rather than relying solely on apps. “Sleep is non-negotiable for me. It’s foundational to overall well-being,” he shared.

Dandwate envisions the next decade will further deepen healthcare coverage to several under-served areas, which will in turn reduce costs and improve outcomes.

“Technology should assist, not replace, human intelligence,” he concluded, emphasising the balance between innovation and empathy in healthcare.

(Listen to the full discussion with Mudit Dandwate on the Interface podcast or watch the YouTube video for more insights.)