Life Sciences

Global Clinical Research Organization Streamlines Patient Burden Information Extraction with GenAI

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Engagement Background

Apexon began its strategic partnership with the client to address inefficiencies in their manual process of extracting patient burden information from clinical trial documentation. At the time, the client was struggling with the labor-intensive task of having Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) manually review and extract data from clinical trial documents, which led to prolonged processing times, higher costs, and potential human errors.

Apexon’s scope included implementing advanced AI solutions using GPT-3.5 technology to automate the Ground Truth (GT) creation process. This approach aimed to streamline the extraction process, reduce manual efforts, and enhance accuracy. Apexon revolutionized the client’s data extraction process by designing and developing an automated system, resulting in significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and operational workflows.

About the client

The client is a global leader in life sciences, specializing in comprehensive data collection and analysis to enhance healthcare outcomes. They leverage technology to optimize data accuracy and speed up healthcare research and development. Their focus on innovative solutions has made them a key player in transforming healthcare through data-driven decisions.

With approximately 86,000 employees, the client conducts operations in more than 100 countries. They create intelligent connections across all aspects of healthcare through advanced analytics, transformative technology, big data resources, and extensive domain expertise. Their capabilities enable customers to accelerate the clinical development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes for patients.

The Challenge
Streamlining Patient Burden Information Extraction with GenAI Solutions

Our client, a leading healthcare data science company, faced significant challenges in extracting patient burden information from clinical trial documentation. This vital data, which details the time, scans, tests, and medications involved in a trial, was crucial for understanding the potential impact on participants. However, the existing process was manually performed by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), consuming substantial time and labor resources. The manual nature of the process led to inefficiencies, potential errors, and higher operational costs, ultimately impacting the overall effectiveness of their clinical trials.

Several key obstacles included:

Inefficient GT Creation
Inefficient
GT Creation

The manual extraction of patient burden information was a labour-intensive process that required SMEs to spend 7-8 hours per document analysing and preparing the Ground Truth (GT) from 46 sets of protocols. This reliance on manual input caused significant delays.

Potential for Human Error
Potential for
Human Error

The tedious nature of manually reading and analysing lengthy clinical trial documents increased the likelihood of errors, affecting the accuracy and reliability of the extracted information.

Limited Scalability and Flexibility
Limited Scalability
and Flexibility

The existing process lacked the ability to quickly adapt to new patient burden variables, limiting the scalability and flexibility needed to efficiently manage evolving clinical trial requirements.

Data Accuracy
Data
Accuracy

The manual processes did not support the high level of accuracy needed for reliable decision-making, potentially compromising the quality of the patient burden data.

High Operational Costs
High Operational
Costs

The significant time and labor required for manual extraction increased operational costs, reducing overall efficiency and profitability.

The Solution

Automating Patient Burden Information Extraction for Ground Truth Creation with Cutting-Edge Technology

Recognizing the limitations of manual extraction processes, Apexon developed an innovative solution to streamline the extraction of patient burden information, improve accuracy, and enhance efficiency. The goal was to make the extraction process faster, more accurate, and cost-effective by leveraging advanced AI technologies, significantly reducing manual intervention, and enhancing operational workflows. This solution, built on GenAI technology, addressed the key challenges of inefficient Ground Truth (GT) creation, limited scalability, and data accuracy concerns.

Key Components of the Apexon Solution:
GPT-3.5 Integration

Our team leveraged the Large Language Model (LLM), GPT-3.5, to automate information extraction from clinical trial documents. Working closely with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) at the client company, we gained a deep understanding of the extraction process and successfully automated it with creative prompt engineering. This approach enabled SMEs to participate in crafting prompts fed to the LLM, extracting relevant information from text with high accuracy.

Streamlined Data Extraction System
Streamlined Data Extraction System

A configurable and adaptive system designed for dynamic healthcare environments.

Enhanced GT Creation Process
Enhanced GT Creation Process

An automated process achieving over 90% accuracy, reducing manual dependencies.

Throughout the project, Apexon defined and executed strategies to automate the extraction of patient burden information and improve data accuracy. Key deliverables included:

Automated GT Creation System
Automated GT Creation System

An AI-driven system utilizing GPT-3.5 to automate the generation of accurate Ground Truth data, significantly reducing reliance on manual input from SMEs.

Enhanced Decision-Making Tools
Enhanced Decision-Making Tools

Tools and systems developed to facilitate quicker and more reliable decision-making processes by leveraging the streamlined data extracted using advanced AI technologies.

Configurable Data Extraction System
Configurable Data Extraction System

A flexible and adaptable system designed to improve the speed and accuracy of data extraction from various clinical trial documents.

Streamlined Workflow for Data Processing
Streamlined Workflow for Data Processing

Implementation of a new workflow that integrates OCR and AI technologies to efficiently process clinical trial protocols and other relevant documents, enhancing productivity and operational efficiency.

Key Areas of Project Scope Included

01Tech
Implementation

Deployed GPT-3.5 and integrated OCR technologies to automate the extraction and processing of clinical trial data, significantly reducing manual efforts.

02Enhanced
Decision-Making

Utilized the improved data extraction capabilities to speed up decision-making processes and enhance data reliability in healthcare research and operations.

03Streamlined
Operations

Automated workflows to quickly and accurately extract patient burden information, ensuring consistent data quality and reliability.

04Automation
Benefits

Enabled efficient, accurate data extraction and processing, reducing manual review needs and accelerating data handling.

By integrating these advanced automation solutions, Apexon significantly improved the efficiency and accuracy of patient burden information extraction, leading to substantial time and cost savings. This strategic approach not only enhanced operational excellence but also fostered greater client satisfaction.

Key Results

Transforming Data Extraction Efficiency and Accuracy in Healthcare Data Science

Leveraging Apexon’s innovative solution, the client achieved significant improvements in their patient burden information extraction process, resulting in:

Reduced Extraction Times and Enhanced Efficiency
Reduced Extraction Times and Enhanced Efficiency

90% Reduction in Extraction Time Automation with GPT-3.5 models drastically cut the manual extraction time, reducing it from 7-8 hours to 10-15 minutes per document. This acceleration translates to quicker data processing and enhanced operational workflows.

Increased SME Capacity Automation freed up valuable time for Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), enabling them to focus on more complex analysis and handle a larger volume of documents.

Improved Resource Allocation Reduced manual extraction time optimizes resource allocation, allowing SMEs to concentrate on tasks requiring their expertise and judgment.

Enhanced Accuracy and Consistency
Enhanced Accuracy and Consistency

Minimized Human Error LLM-powered information extraction reduces the risk of manual errors, ensuring higher accuracy and consistency in data extraction.

Improved Data Reliability The automated solution promotes consistent extraction practices, ensuring better adherence to standards and regulatory requirements, leading to more reliable and trustworthy data.

Reduced Discrepancy Oversights Automated extraction ensures no crucial information or potential issues are overlooked, resulting in more comprehensive data.

Adaptable System The system is highly adaptable and can be configured for new protocols with minimal prompt adjustments, ensuring future flexibility.

Overall Business Value
Overall Business Value

Increased Decision-Making Speed Enhanced data extraction capabilities speed up decision-making processes and improve data reliability in healthcare research and operations.

Reduced Operational Costs Automation leads to significant cost savings through reduced labor requirements and streamlined workflows.

Enhanced Competitive Advantage Efficient and accurate data extraction processes provide a competitive edge in the healthcare data science industry.

These key results demonstrate the transformative power of Apexon’s solution. By leveraging automation and cutting-edge technologies, the client achieved a new level of efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness, ultimately enhancing both operational excellence and overall business value.