Indian healthcare industry to invest further in computational infrastructure for data integration in patient care

The Indian healthcare industry is looking to invest further in computational infrastructure as data integration frameworks and regulatory compliance are pivotal to ensure intelligent clinical support systems can operate seamlessly within the existing medical eco-system.

Harshal Kamalakar Sawant, practice head of healthcare software services, Tata Elxsi said the digital transformation in healthcare has paved the way for advanced decision-support systems. This is an age of multimodal data access in patient care which improves clinical decision support.

By integrating diverse data types, such as imaging, lab reports, and genetic information, clinical decision-making is moving toward a more holistic, accurate, and personalised approach. Multimodal data transforms diagnostic accuracy and enabling healthcare professionals to make more precise, informed choices, ultimately improving patient outcomes. However, integrating this data manually is challenging due to the sheer volume and complexity, thus requiring advanced technology to synthesise it meaningfully, he added.

The advent of artificial intelligence provides real-time insights. Use of AI in synthesising multimodal data not only enhances diagnostic precision but also supports predictive modeling, enabling proactive healthcare strategies that anticipate patient needs before health issues escalate, said Sawant.

The development of intelligent clinical support systems is gaining momentum as healthcare organisations prioritise digital health initiatives. Research institutions, hospitals, and technology companies are working collaboratively to build platforms capable of handling the complexities of multimodal data. These systems are being designed with robust, adaptable AI models that can process imaging, genomic, and laboratory data while adhering to privacy and security standards, he noted.

While multimodal data integration brings numerous benefits to Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), implementation remains complex. Apart from evolving regulations, a major challenge lies in training data quality, which significantly influences model selection, training processes, and potential biases, he said.

In healthcare, sourcing high-quality datasets is difficult due to stringent privacy requirements, inadequate digitisation in lower-income regions, and the reactive nature of vital records often taken post-incident. Organisations must also consider future expansions of intended use, such as adapting algorithms initially designed for adults to pediatric populations or extending lesion detection capabilities across cancer types. Moreover, insufficiently diverse datasets—lacking variations in age, race, or geography—can reduce a model’s generalisability thereby affecting its decision-making process, said Sawant.

Now integrating multimodal data into clinical decision support is revolutionising healthcare, making it more accurate, efficient, and patient-centered. By combining imaging, lab results, and genetic information, AI-powered platforms support physicians in making personalised and data-driven decisions. As organisations continue developing and refining intelligent clinical support systems, the potential for improved patient outcomes and enhanced healthcare delivery is within reach, said Sawant.