Coastal Empire hospitals detail their approach to AI

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Doctors and nurses at Memorial Health say they have the option to turn on 50 different artificial intelligence features through Epic but have not yet implemented them into practice.

Epic, a program that has partnered with OpenAI, announced a partnership with health care organizations across the country as the use of AI continues to grow.

Doctors say AI could mean more time with patients

Dr. Timothy Connelly, a Memorial Health internal medicine and clinical informatics physician, said the tools could save health care workers time and improve precision.

“The biggest difference the patients will notice is that they’re seeing more of the doctor, more of the nurse,” Connelly said. “They’re getting more face-to-face, more hands-on care than they’ve ever gotten before because those tools will take away a lot of the repetitive tasks of sitting right in front of a computer screen, pecking away at a keyboard.”

Connelly said one tool, ambient notes, would ensure nothing discussed during an appointment is missed.

“I talked about five things, and you only really addressed three things,” Connelly said. “With ambient notes, the doctor will be able to address all of the things that you talked about because it’s going to be there. You know, it’s not going to be like somebody ignoring something. It’s all going to be there, it’s going to be in the right place, and these are notes that patients have access to.”

Connelly said AI also has the ability to summarize what is happening with a patient.

“We spend a lot of time looking at that computer screen,” Connelly said. “AI has the ability to make a very concise summary. It knows what’s important, it knows what’s not, and it kind of paints a very good picture, so you have situational awareness of what’s going on with your patient right then and there.”

Nursing staff involved in decisions on new features

Jessica Jackson, an assistant chief nursing officer at Memorial Health, said summarizing notes is one of the most helpful features for nurses.

“When we’re looking at potential features that could be implemented, and from a staff and nursing perspective, we make sure that they are at the table for all of those decisions and that they are kept in the loop regarding any information or decisions regarding how it would be utilized to help their everyday practice,” Jackson said.

Jackson said discharging patients safely is another area where AI could help.

“We treat a lot of patients,” Jackson said. “So when you think about the importance of discharging a patient safely and making sure we have room for another patient to come into our facility, that is a task that would greatly help nursing and save them a lot of time.”

Jackson adds that AI will not replace the role of nurses.

“That technology is not the goal,” Jackson said. “Better patient care is the goal, and AI would never be able to replace that level of competence and knowledge, care, compassion that nurses show every single day.”

Hospital says AI tools are specialized, not generalized

Connelly said the AI tools being considered at Memorial Health are large language models, not generalized AI.

“We’re not trying to make robots,” Connelly said. “We’re not trying to make care automated or even hackable. You know, people are wondering, can that AI hack my pacemaker? No, the AI tools that we’re using are very specialized. They’re actually LLMs. They’re not generalized AI. They’re very limited in their scope, but they can provide us precious time to spend taking care of patients and doing what really matters.”

Memorial Health officials said when the organization does turn on the AI options, they will be closely monitored and activated only a few at a time.

St. Joseph’s/Candler uses AI in limited ways

WTOC also checked in with St. Joseph’s/Candler, which said it currently uses AI in limited ways, including helping radiologists take a second look at patient images.

The hospital system provided a statement to WTOC.

St. Joseph’s/Candler has always been committed to advancing healthcare technology that may benefit our patients. With the advent of AI, St. Joseph’s/Candler has developed a deliberate selection process for AI tools that physicians and co-workers might use to help those seeking care. The process includes a clinical review of AI tools based on their intended use, while considering applicable requirements and recognized best practices.

  

We currently deploy AI-assisted tools in limited ways to support certain clinical and patient-care activities, with appropriate clinical oversight.  For example, St. Joseph’s/Candler currently uses tools to assist radiologists on second looks of patient images. As this technology continues to develop, we purposefully assess additional tools that may provide benefit for patients.  Looking to the future, we are about to enter into trials for three different AI ambient documentation (or listening) tools that may give providers more time at the bedside with a patient rather than typing up notes in a computer.

 

We recognize that using AI tools can be helpful when used appropriately and thoughtfully.  Our approach is to embrace this technology where it makes sense and best helps our patients, while considering and implementing appropriate guardrails designed to protect patient safety, privacy and quality of care.

 

Lastly, St. Joseph’s/Candler does not use and has no agreement with OpenAI or ChatGPT.

St. Joseph’s/Candler

St. Joseph’s/Candler said it does not have a partnership with OpenAI or ChatGPT.