new ai app can help diagnose skin cancers and improve access to care
a new toronto-based startup aims to cut the wait time for individuals with potential skin cancers or other dermatological concerns, making care far more accessible and timely.
3 minute read
instead of going to a primary care provider and getting a referral to a specialist, which can take half a year, the getskinhelp app allows users to utilize the ai technology implemented through years of research to get their skin care concerns looked at now.
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skin cancer can be exceptionally dangerous, depending on the type. canadians are currently waiting up to six months to see a dermatologist for skin-related concerns, and when cancer is a possibility, six months is far too long.
a new toronto-based startup aims to cut the wait time for individuals with potential skin cancers or other dermatological concerns, making care far more accessible and timely.
businessman keith loo and plastic surgeon dr. colin hong decided that there had to be a better way, and in 2020, they developed a company called skinopathy. they launched the getskinhelp app, which connects patients to healthcare services, including virtual appointments, to improve access to dermatological care.
to ensure the advancement is up to par with today’s technology and the app can provide accuracy for users, skinopathy has utilized programs available through organizations, including mitacs, a government-funded canadian innovation company, and various canadian universities.
“there’s so much great technology available today, but for many reasons, medical science hasn’t kept up,” said dr. hong, skinopathy’s chief medical officer, in a press release.“our partnership with mitacs provides access to fresh, eager graduate students who bring new perspectives and out-of-the box thinking to the table, helping to advance this groundbreaking technology in record time.”
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instead of going to a primary care provider and getting a referral to a specialist, which can take half a year, the getskinhelp app allows users to utilize the ai technology implemented through years of research to get their skin care concerns looked at now.
all people have to do is take a photo of the mole, spot, or other area, and they will be triaged accordingly using ai technology. once the image is submitted to the app, neural-network-based technology can examine it using several data points to determine whether it requires immediate attention from a provider or if it’s a less severe condition that poses no concern.
a second feature looks for visual cues of malicious moles, such as asymmetry, irregular borders, colour, and diameter—the abcd method. it can accurately diagnose eight conditions, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and benign growths, with an accuracy of 88 per cent.
once a person’s mole is deemed more dangerous and they need to see a specialist, the app will help them set up either an in-person or virtual appointment, giving people the accessibility they need in a backed-up healthcare system.
“unfortunately, when early-stage cancers are missed, it’s often too late for patients, and it also places a larger burden of care on the healthcare system. our goal is to make sure that people who need a doctor get in front of the doctor,” said skinopathy data scientist mahla abdolahnejad, one of six interns recruited by skinopathy through mitacs, in a press release.
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as of writing, over 24,000 patients have been referred to skinopathy, showing that the platform itself is already making a difference. one toronto resident proves that when healthcare is accessible, people have a better chance at optimal outcomes.
“i’m not sure we would have prioritized seeing a doctor as quickly as we did without using getskinhelp ai,” said jennifer edey in a press release, whose mother had a suspicious spot on her nose. “it gave us the confidence to see the doctor within a week and have the lesion dealt with quickly. in a very real way, it probably saved my mom’s life.”
the company is now working to create more applications that can be used similarly to help triage patients with other ailments, such as burns and burn treatment. they’re also being developed to assist with wound care in retirement homes, provide tailored anti-aging skin care recommendations, and treat other skin conditions, including eczema, rosacea, and acne.
“this is exactly the kind of real-world impact we see when canadian talent is put to work on pressing challenges,” said dr. lucas, ceo of mitacs, in a press release. “mitacs is playing an increasingly important role in helping companies turn research into results — connecting private-sector needs with academic expertise to drive made-in canada solutions that strengthen productivity, improve services, and build long-term resilience.”
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