The ways that artificial intelligence (AI) has been transforming the healthcare industry has been one of the hottest business topics in recent years. Just about every aspect of the sector is set for a major transformation, from new patient therapies, enhanced diagnoses, more efficient surgeries, to the manufacturing and development of new medicines. There has been a tremendous amount of advancement in a relatively short time span, and we wanted to learn more about how this trend has been affecting Hoosier hospitals and healthcare delivery across the state.
We reached out to leaders from several Indiana hospitals and asked, “What role is AI currently playing in the Indiana healthcare system? And in your opinion, where do you think it’s headed?”
Dr. Diane Hunt, Vice President, Chief Medical Information Officer
“While some level of artificial intelligence technology has been available in most areas within healthcare for the past several years, recent advances in technology have really resulted in an explosion of available options within the industry. Right now, I think most of us are working to wrap our arms around the various technologies that are available while concurrently ensuring we have processes to monitor and govern them in a way that ensures long-term safety for our patients and communities. It’s a field with seemingly limitless possibilities, and many of us believe that this is the beginning of a technology revolution in healthcare; one that will ultimately help us improve the care we provide to our patients in ways we never knew possible.”
Muhammad Siddiqui, Vice President, Chief Information Officer
“Indiana's healthcare system, like others in the United States and around the world, is undergoing a transformation due to the incredible potential of Artificial Intelligence. AI is changing various aspects of patient care, including making hospital operations more efficient and predicting dangerous opioid overdoses.
While we recognize the potential of AI, addressing concerns is crucial. Protecting data privacy and minimizing bias are issues that require transparent and proactive actions. It is essential to implement AI in a way that ensures it complements human expertise instead of replacing it.
Indiana's commitment to investing in AI research and development positions the state as a leader in healthcare innovation. This journey, guided by principles and robust safeguards, lays the foundation for a healthier Hoosier population. By leveraging AI responsibly, we can create a future where all Hoosiers have access to high-quality, personalized healthcare.”
Dr. Sachin Shah, Chief Medical Information Officer
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare by enhancing clinician efficiency, improving patient outcomes, and streamlining administrative tasks. AI's ability to convert unstructured data into usable structured formats aids in better risk adjustment and revenue capture, while also improving clinical decision support.
Looking ahead, AI is poised to deepen its integration within healthcare systems, with an emphasis on delivering more personalized, efficient, and proactive healthcare. With the continuous advancement in AI technologies, the future will move towards a more collaborative model where AI tools and healthcare professionals work in tandem to improve health outcomes. The goal is not to replace human expertise but to complement it, ensuring that AI acts as a powerful ally in the fight against disease and inefficiency.”
Sarah Hunter, Chief Operating Officer
“At Northwest Health, our AI-based diagnostic tools have helped our providers in the early detection of diseases to ultimately deliver better patient outcomes. One example is our AI-based maternal-fetal early warning system that monitors vital data throughout labor and delivery. This has helped our maternal team recognize and respond to potential complications for safer births. Another is our AI system for enhanced colonoscopy screenings which helps to increase the detection of colon polyps, in turn reducing the risk of colorectal cancer.
In my opinion, AI in healthcare is promising and will continue to grow to optimize healthcare delivery in Indiana.”
Rachelle Tardy, Associate Vice President, Transition Support & Managed Care
“Artificial intelligence is allowing us to provide greater access to care for our diverse patient population. As the safety net health system for Marion County, Eskenazi Health began exploring the technology in our call center which would analyze phone discussions with patients to identify points of friction. This data helped us identify and address barriers and social constraints impacting a person’s care. Moving forward, this is technology will play a much greater role in improving access to care and equip providers with vital information to best assess and treat our patients.”
Dr. Mark Pierce, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Information Officer
“Recognizing its immense potential, Parkview Health has begun piloting tools that leverage generative AI. Late last year, Parkview began using AI-generated draft responses to electronic messages from patients, which allows the use of clinically appropriate information to be drafted for physicians to review and customize.
Parkview will continue to evaluate and deploy AI-powered solutions throughout 2024 where we are able to improve efficiency and effectiveness while maintaining safe care. In the near term, we will likely see AI making additional inroads in healthcare and also see the rapid emergence of AI-augmented care.”
Scott Eshowsky, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer
“The scope of Artificial Intelligence applications in health care has seen impressive growth in recent years, ranging from voice recognition to medical image analysis to generative AI using large language models to assist with physician documentation. We also use AI for early detection of patient decline in the hospital setting using predictive analytics and alerting algorithms.
On the business side of health care, we’re beginning to use robotic process automation to manage the high volume of clerical transactions that are necessary for submitting insurance company claims. We are looking forward to the implementation of clinical digital assistants that will save our doctors valuable time by allowing them to interact with the electronic health record using voice prompts instead of repetitive scrolling, pointing, and clicking to review patient data.”
