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Medical Care

The Promise and Perils of AI in Kentucky's Healthcare(This title emphasizes both the potential benefits and potential risks of AI in Kentucky's healthcare context.)

2024-12-02

As Kentucky witnesses the continuous growth of its elderly population, the demand for medical services is on the rise. This has led to a heightened focus on artificial intelligence in healthcare to enhance efficiency and delivery. Kentucky's 65-and-older population now constitutes 18% of the total, with projections indicating it will exceed 20% within five years. To meet these challenges, healthcare systems are exploring new artificial intelligence-powered methods across various aspects such as diagnostic recommendations, remote patient monitoring, and appointment booking.

Unleashing the Potential of AI in Kentucky's Healthcare

Diagnostic Advancements through AI

Generative AI is set to play a significant role in healthcare communications, from physicians to families, and in training medical professionals. Adel Elmaghraby, director of research and innovation at the University of Louisville's Digital Transformation Center, emphasizes this. Deborah Vanloh, a mammogram technologist at Naval Hospital Pensacola, highlights the importance of mammograms in detecting breast cancer early. However, Elmaghraby also stresses that the role of physicians remains crucial and cannot be replaced by bots. AI tools will support and augment existing work rather than replace medical teams.

An area of promise in medical decision-making is "fuzzy logic" computing. It allows for shades of grey in evaluation and better imitates human reasoning. Elmaghraby has been involved in researching fuzzy logic processes to improve solutions for diabetic patients and bed sores. In the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area, Genexia Health Inc. is using fuzzy logic to revolutionize the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease for women, their leading cause of death.

Student Involvement in the AI Revolution

Universities across the board are encouraging students to participate in the AI revolution. In 2017, Elmaghraby started the AI Hive Center at the University of Louisville to foster entrepreneurship and new projects. Currently, 10 to 25 selected students work on active AI projects quarterly using their campus data center. Two teams are developing applications expected to be unveiled in the first quarter of 2025.

Trust and Governance in AI

Da-Wyone Haynes, founder of Yellowstone Physical Cyber Security Services LLC, emphasizes the need for safe AI environments. He points out that doctors are already burdened with data analysis, and any mistakes can have a catastrophic impact on patient care. Policymakers and the American Medical Association are also looking at policies in this area to ensure safe clinical implementation and protect patient rights.

In mid-2024, the Coalition for Health AI released an Assurance Standards Guide to standardize AI deployment in healthcare. It suggests creating a network of trustworthy labs for post-market monitoring and bias vetting. David Shearer, CEO of Shearer Intelligence, works in the trusted advisor space for hospitals. His company integrates multiple data sources to optimize ambulatory routes and traffic, using generative AI solutions like Hyro.AI and Kore.AI. Baptist Health is exploring a virtual nursing application with sensors to monitor patient movements.

Cybersecurity and AI Collaboration

Elmaghraby notes that cybersecurity issues in healthcare are on the rise. UofL and Murray State University have received $10 million each in state funding to establish their own cybersecurity centers, focusing on student and government agency audiences. They will explore partnerships and research in areas where AI and cybersecurity intersect.

In a recent interview with Lynn Thoman for the 3 Takeaways Podcast, Sam Hazen, the chief executive officer of HCA Healthcare, shared his unique perspective on the future of healthcare. As one of the nation's leading healthcare providers, HCA Healthcare is at the forefront of leveraging innovative technology to improve care delivery.

Using Data to Support Clinicians

Healthcare is a dynamic field, and at HCA Healthcare, they play a crucial role in the delivery system. They provide a wide range of services to patients in various locations. Sam believes that the industry is at an inflection point driven by emerging technologies. By using machine learning and artificial intelligence, they can learn from patterns and bring those learnings to caregivers, enhancing the quality of care. In his 42 years with the company, he has seen the potential of using data to support decision-making and improve care.There is often a lot of variation in care due to individual decisions. However, by using artificial intelligence, they can provide more standardized and informed care. This will lead to greater transparency for patients and make the system more efficient.

Advances in Diagnostics and Treatment

In oncology care, the Sarah Cannon Research Institute conducts a large number of clinical trials and generates new drug developments. Robotic-assisted surgery is less invasive, allowing patients to recover faster and enabling physicians to operate in new ways. In diagnostics, computerized CT scanners and MRIs are highly advanced and fast, replacing more invasive procedures. This allows for timely and economic care.HCA Healthcare is at the forefront of these technological advancements, performing more robotic-assisted surgeries than any other system in the world and continuing to grow in this area.

Leveraging Scale to Improve Care Delivery

Having scale is one thing, but using it effectively is another. HCA Healthcare has learned to use scale effectively over the years. They have consolidated redundant functions to create value and access capital at a reasonable cost to invest in the business and people.They also harvest best practices by sharing learnings across their 20 hospitals in Miami, 20 in Dallas, and 10 in Denver. This allows them to be better employers, more engaged in the community, and provide a better care process for patients. Their unique culture, which emphasizes doing the right thing and being detail-oriented, adds value to their patients.

The Future of AI in Healthcare

AI can help improve healthcare delivery in three primary ways. On the administrative side, it can streamline and make more efficient functions that are heavily regulated. In the emergency room, AI can enhance throughput and make the process more effective.The most exciting area is leveraging standardized data sets to bring patterns to the forefront. This allows decision-makers to interact with insights and adjust care delivery. By supporting human intelligence with AI, patients will benefit in ways that are hard to explain.

3 Takeaways

First, hard work matters. Leaders must be willing to solve problems and work hard to ensure the success of their organizations and teams. Second, keep learning. At HCA Healthcare, they learn from each other and from other organizations to stay at the forefront. Third, treat people right. In the people business, focusing on taking care of sick people is crucial.Sam Hazen is the CEO of HCA Healthcare, leading one of the nation's leading healthcare providers with 187 hospitals and approximately 2,400 ambulatory sites of care. Listen to the full conversation and gain additional insight on 3 Takeaways.

Photo Credit: Salim Hanzaz. The Soliant Health 2024 State of Healthcare Report has emerged, shedding light on significant issues faced by women in healthcare. This comprehensive report, which is based on an independent survey of over 2,000 US adults who received healthcare services in the last 2 years and an internal survey of more than 2,000 professionals in the Soliant network, highlights serious concerns such as misdiagnosis, access difficulties, and quality of care. It also identifies certain "safe havens" for women within the healthcare system.

Key Insights and Concerns

1. Misdiagnosis Rates

A significant 66% of women reported receiving a misdiagnosis in the past 2 years. This alarming statistic indicates a widespread problem within the healthcare system. Moreover, 63.5% of women identified "receiving a misdiagnosis" as a major concern when seeking care in 2024. Such misdiagnoses can have serious consequences for women's health, leading to delayed or incorrect treatment and potentially worsening their conditions.

2. Unsatisfactory Care

Of the patients who selected "receiving unsatisfactory or poor-quality care" as a concern for 2024, an astonishing 65.3% were women. This highlights the need for improved quality control and better training for healthcare providers to ensure that women receive the care they deserve. Women healthcare professionals themselves reported worsening job burnout and mental health issues as the largest problem they are facing in their work. This suggests that the healthcare environment may be contributing to their stress and well-being.

3. Screening Action Gap

A survey conducted by Gallup for Hologic involving 4,001 women revealed a concerning "Screening Action Gap" among US women. Despite recognizing the importance of health screenings, two in five women, or 43%, skip or delay them. This poses a significant risk for preventable health issues, especially for screenings related to certain cancers. These cancers collectively result in over 70,000 deaths among US women annually. The implications of this gap are far-reaching and demand immediate attention.

4. Lung Cancer Disparities

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States and globally. Research shows that biological sex plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis and the immune system's response to lung cancer. Factors such as occupational exposure and hormones explain part of the sex disparities in lung cancer incidence and prognosis. Additionally, sex differences in treatment tolerability and response have been observed. Finally, differences in screening protocols may influence the presentation and stage at which lung cancer is diagnosed in women, further impacting outcomes.Continuing to explore the experiences and perceptions of patients and clinicians on the frontlines is essential. By doing so, we can identify specific areas where improvements in women's healthcare are most needed and gain insights into potential solutions to close the gender healthcare gap. It is crucial that we address these issues to ensure the well-being and health of women across the country.