Making an accurate diagnosis is becoming increasingly complex. Physicians have more diagnostic tools available than ever before, while patients increasingly present with multiple health conditions. How can we ensure that patients still receive a timely diagnosis? According to Saskia Haitjema, the key lies in closer collaboration and smarter use of medical data. As new Professor of Data-Driven Integrated Diagnostics at UMC Utrecht, she aims to improve diagnostic processes without losing sight of the human side of healthcare.
Advances in medicine have expanded the range of diagnostic options, from laboratory testing and medical imaging to genetic testing. However, this also makes it increasingly challenging for physicians to determine which test is best suited to answer a specific clinical question.
Take the assessment of kidney function, for example. “Kidney function is typically assessed through blood tests at the Central Diagnostic Laboratory,” explains Professor Saskia Haitjema. “However, these calculations do not fully account for a patient’s muscle mass. A radiologist can sometimes assess muscle mass more accurately using a CT scan, allowing us to make a better estimate of kidney function.”
Haitjema therefore wants diagnostic departments to collaborate more closely. “Ideally, physicians would have a single point of contact for diagnostics. They could submit a clinical question, and we would work together as diagnostic specialists to determine which department is best equipped to answer it.”
This collaboration is becoming increasingly important. Alongside the growing number of diagnostic options, an aging population is causing more complex patient needs. “Physicians have to interpret and integrate increasing amounts of diagnostic information,” Haitjema explains. “By taking a more active role in clinical decision-making, diagnostic departments can help them navigate that complexity.”
As a basis for this integrated diagnostics, Haitjema wants to make smarter use of existing medical data. One approach involves the use of artificial intelligence (AI), which can identify patterns in clinical data that may be difficult for physicians to recognize.
“When patients present with symptoms, physicians typically consider common conditions first. This is a logical and often appropriate approach. However, for patients with rare diseases, it can result in substantial delays in proper diagnosis.”
Some patients visit their primary care physician or specialist multiple times with different symptoms. They may also see different healthcare professionals during these visits. “By analyzing information across these encounters, AI can identify connections that might otherwise go unnoticed,” Haitjema explains. “This could help alert physicians when further diagnostic testing may be warranted.”
By recognizing these patterns earlier, physicians may be able to establish a diagnosis sooner while reducing unnecessary diagnostic testing.
Although Haitjema is actively developing new digital solutions, she also critically evaluates their impact on patient care. “We shouldn’t just ask which tasks a computer can take over. We also need to consider what we lose when a person no longer performs those tasks,” she emphasizes.
One example is self-service stations where patients can measure their own blood pressure before a consultation. While these stations may improve efficiency and reduce workforce, they also replace an interaction with a nurse. “That nurse does much more than measure your blood pressure. They can reassure you, have a conversation, or notice something you might not mention to your physician.”
For Haitjema, this illustrates why implementing digital technologies, including AI, requires careful consideration. Technology should support healthcare professionals without replacing the human interactions that contribute to high-quality patient care. “Healthcare should never revolve around data. It should revolve around patients.”
As a child, Haitjema never imagined she would become a professor. “Both my parents were researchers, and I thought that was terrible when I was young. When my friends asked what my parents did, I’d think: How should I know? I don’t even know what a researcher does!”
Today, she is a researcher herself and, at 38, one of the youngest professors in the Netherlands. A remarkable milestone, but she is just as proud of the opportunity to shape her own path as a researcher. “The career path of an implementation researcher suits me very well, especially given my background as a physician. I work in an environment where people value the fact that I focus not only on scientific publications, but also on putting research findings into practice in everyday clinical care.”
To achieve this, Haitjema, as a bridgebuilder, brings together experts from different disciplines. “I see myself as a generalist. I know what expertise exists across the hospital and within my research group, and how to bring the right people together.” She believes this interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for translating scientific advances into improvements in patient care.
As a young female professor, Haitjema also hopes to inspire others. “I think it’s valuable to show that there are different ways to build a scientific career. At the same time, I hope that one day age and gender will no longer attract special attention, and that people will be valued primarily for what they contribute.”
