Perspectives

Nearly 200 WellSpan Health providers currently use the program.

“‘Game changer’ is the phrase many doctors use after trying DAX,” Baker said. “They love that they can just listen to their patients and not worry about taking notes. It’s helping to battle the burnout problem, and patients like that their doctors can be more engaged and focused. It’s been one of the most rewarding programs I’ve been involved with.”

Other AI-based technologies in place at WellSpan Health include a program that reads CT scans of stroke patients, reducing time before treatment can begin, and one that scans electronic health records to identify patients at high risk for not showing up for medical appointments.

Another current use of AI is a machine learning tool powered by the EHR company Epic. The program, frequently used in hospice care, picks up early signs of increased risk for medical deterioration, enabling providers to step up care for the patient and family members.

The program is able to analyze a wider set of data related to a patient’s condition than algorithms traditionally used.

“It identifies people whose vital signs, when combined with their medical history, show evidence of deterioration,” Baker explained. “That allows for a higher quality of care and comfort for the patient.”

AI also is used frequently in medical imaging, including an algorithm that triages a patient’s X-rays in order of their importance.

While those and other AI-based programs are already in place, Baker is looking forward to other technologies still on the horizon, including new uses for chatbot systems, including ChatGPT.

He envisions ChatGPT helping to manage patient information by scanning electronic medical records that include input from different health care systems and synthesizing the information into a summary of what is vital to a patient.

WellSpan also is looking into the possibility of using cameras that monitor patients in hospital beds and can alert nurses to someone who is a fall risk trying to get out of bed, or a sedated patient who needs to be turned to prevent pressure ulcers from occurring.

“We’re truly excited at WellSpan about what’s happening and what’s to come with AI,” Baker said. “But we want to invest thoughtfully, carefully and deliberately to make sure the technologies aren’t just neat toys, but really useful tools that can help us improve our care.”

AI-based technologies can enhance the work of providers, but are most effective when paired with humans, Baker said. He cited a quote by the late Leo M. Cherne, an economist and lawyer, who headed the International Rescue Committee for four decades.

“The computer is incredibly fast, accurate and stupid. Man is unbelievably slow, inaccurate and brilliant. The marriage of the two is a force beyond calculation.”

“I think that says it nicely,” Baker said.

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

The field of health care already benefits significantly from the use of artificial intelligence, with many more promising applications on the horizon. Health care systems, however, are mindful about when and how they employ various technologies.

“There’s a lot of experimenting and testing the water going on right now,” said Allen Cubell, executive director of innovation for Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. “AI is going to continue to impact all industries in some way. The question is deciding when to jump in.”

ChatGPT is exciting and promising in its potential uses for the health care industry, but is by no means ready to be fully embraced as a foolproof tool.

“It seems like knowledge that you’re getting back, but really it’s language, and there’s the risk that the base-line premises could be wrong,” explained Dr. Michael Sheinberg, PMLGH’s Chief Medical Information Officer. “That means that for now, we certainly need validation on the human side.”

A growing opportunity for the use of AI in health care is in its ability to review, analyze and share large amounts of data. The amount of medical information generated has increased tremendously with the use of electronic medical records; personal medical devices that collect information about patients; and data collection tools that track information regarding insurance claims, staffing schedules, supply chain metrics, and other procedures.

AI that’s already in use, and programs predicted for the future, can assist greatly in managing those large amounts of data, and can be particularly helpful for health care professionals who are tracking information about patients.

“The amount of information I have about a patient has increased exponentially,” said Sheinberg, who is an obstetrician-gynecologist practicing at LG Health Physicians Family & Maternity Medicine. “When done right, AI can help me focus and sort through all that information.”

AI programs can analyze information and alert providers to what is most relevant and pertinent.

“Maybe there’s something buried at the bottom of those records that the doctor might not see,” Cubell said. “A good AI program can ensure that gets called out and noticed.”

AI also shows increasing promise in the areas of precision medicine, ambient listening, imaging, radiology, syndromic surveillance, predictive analytics, and diagnosis. While AI is already employed in many areas of medicine, health care professionals are looking forward to expanding its reach.

“We can envision a lot of valuable applications that just aren’t yet available,” Sheinberg said.

Cubell noted that the medical field tends to move cautiously with its use of AI, knowing that the stakes are too high for mistakes.

“We can’t just throw in a technology and see what happens,” he said. “We need to be cautious and evidence-based in our use of AI.”

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