Ladies and Gentlemen! This is no humbug. Why Model-Guided Medicine will become a main pillar for the future healthcare system

• Published in: International journal for computer assisted radiology and surgery Vol. 19; no. 10; pp. 1919 - 1927
• Main Authors: Cypko, Mario A., Wilhelm, Dirk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Computer Imaging; Computer Science; Editorial; Health Informatics; Imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pattern Recognition and Graphics; Radiology; Surgery; Vision
• ISSN: 1861-6429; 1861-6429
• DOI: 10.1007/s11548-024-03269-x

Purpose Model-Guided Medicine (MGM) is a transformative approach to health care that offers a comprehensive and integrative perspective that goes far beyond our current concepts. In this editorial, we want to take a closer look at this innovative concept and how health care could benefit from its further development and application. Methods The information presented here is primarily the opinion of the authors and is based on their knowledge in the fields of information technology, computer science, and medicine. The contents are also the result of numerous discussions and scientific meetings within the CARS Society and the CARS Workshop on Model-Guided Medicine and are substantially stimulated by the available literature on the subject. Results The current healthcare landscape, with its reliance on isolated data points and broad population-based recommendations, often fails to integrate the dynamic and patient-specific factors necessary for truly personalised care. MGM addresses these limitations by integrating recent advancements in data processing, artificial intelligence, and human–computer interaction for the creation of individual models which integrate the available information and knowledge of patients, healthcare providers, devices, environment, etc. Based on a holistic concept, MGM will become effective tool for modern medicine, which shows a unique ability to assess and analyse interconnected relations and the combined impact of multiple factors on the individual. MGM emphasises transparency, reproducibility, and interpretability, ensuring that models are not black boxes but tools that healthcare professionals can fully understand, validate, and apply in clinical practice. Conclusion The practical applications of MGM are vast, ranging from optimising individual treatment plans to enhancing the efficiency of entire healthcare systems. The research community is called upon to pioneer new projects that demonstrate MGM’s potential, establishing it as a central pillar of future health care, where more personalised, predictive, and effective medical practices will hopefully become the standard.