Sisu: Medical Translation and Predictive Diagnostics

sisu is an online platform for telemedicine geared towards ESL speakers. Each individual is connected to a healthcare provider and are able to type their messages in their preferred language. sisu will translate the message to the healthcare provider's preferred language. Likewise, the healthcare provider's messages will be translated to the patient's preferred language. This is meant to facilitate open-ended questions and communication between the patient and healthcare provider to maximize efficiency and accuracy when diagnosing and treating.

Each chat log is anonymized and stored in a database--both the original, native version and the translated version. As we build up a larger and larger database of clinical text and diagnoses, we can build a neural net to perform natural language processing, linking key words with certain pathologies. The idea is that different populations, cultures and languages have different words, attitudes, and disease predispositions. Some of these cultural nuances are often lost in translation, so building a neural net from the original words can be a more powerful diagnostic tool. This is another level of cultural competence, addressing nuance in language.

Developed for Johns Hopkins University's MedHacks 2018 "Snow Day." Hopkins Alliance for a Healthier World - Open Science Track Winner.