GenAI sparks enthusiasm in healthcare, with experts like Dr. Kumah-Crystal recognizing its potential in clinical documentation, information summarization, and care delivery improvement. However, caution prevails as the industry navigates uncharted territory, necessitating ‘algorithmovigilance’ to address safety and bias concerns. Vanderbilt University Medical Center pioneers AI integration, demonstrating success in ambient documentation and patient guidance. Plans involve expanding AI applications while maintaining a balance between ambition and caution. The HIMSS24 panel, featuring healthcare thought leaders, aims to educate attendees on GenAI’s possibilities, safe utilization, and the vital role of algorithm vigilance in preventing adverse effects.
The healthcare landscape resonates with anticipation as generative AI, or GenAI emerges as a transformative force. Dr. Yaa Kumah-Crystal, an esteemed figure from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, offers insights into the potential and challenges of this groundbreaking technology. As the industry buzzes with excitement, critical questions arise about GenAI’s impact on care quality and cost efficiency, culminating in a thought-provoking discussion at HIMSS24. This introduction sets the stage for an exploration of AI’s promises and limitations, emphasizing the imperative need for ‘algorithmovigilance’ during this pivotal phase.
The healthcare sector is abuzz with talk of generative AI and its potential to enhance care quality and cost efficiency. HIMSS24 will delve into the question of whether GenAI can truly revolutionize healthcare under the session titled “GenAI’s Got Talent – Can it Save Healthcare?” This discussion aims to address concerns among IT decision-makers about whether generative AI is a beacon of hope for the future or merely packaged digital snake oil.
At HIMSS24 in Orlando, key figures in healthcare IT, including Dr. Keith J. Dreyer, Sonya Makhni, and Dr. Yaa Kumah-Crystal, will join moderator Don Woodlock to explore the promises and limitations of generative AI models across clinical and operational scenarios.
Kumah-Crystal, also participating in another HIMSS24 panel focusing on empowering clinicians with AI, shares her insights on the potential impact of artificial intelligence in healthcare settings.
Q. How enthusiastic are you about generative AI and its potential to enhance healthcare?
A. Having devoted a significant part of my career to natural language processing and human-computer interaction, I am tremendously excited about generative AI. Colleagues and family have become accustomed to my frequent discussions on this topic. The advanced capabilities of tools like ChatGPT have amazed me, offering potential benefits in clinical documentation, information summarization, and insights into clinical care, ultimately elevating care quality. The recent explosion of AI advances brings hope to longstanding challenges in healthcare delivery.
Q. In your opinion, what are the limitations and aspects of genAI that warrant skepticism or caution?
A. While the strides in AI are thrilling, we must exercise caution during this exploratory phase. Vigilance is crucial, particularly concerning algorithm safety and potential biases. This is why we adhere to the principles of “algorithmovigilance,” a term coined by our Chair of Biomedical Informatics, Peter Embi, to systematically monitor and prevent adverse effects.
Q. How is AI currently utilized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and which use cases show the most success?
A. At VUMC, we explore various AI tools, including ambient documentation, AI guidance for patients, and message generation. We’ve implemented a secure version of OpenAI’s large language model within our Azure environment, offering a HIPAA-compliant platform for education and research, demonstrating promising engagement.
We approach our goals with ambition yet exercise caution to ensure safety.
Dr. Yaa Kumah-Crystal, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Q. Are there plans to expand AI’s use in the future, and how is the health system balancing ambition and caution in its rollout?
A. Indeed, we have plans to expand AI usage in the future. Our researchers are examining how AI can support decision-making creatively and safely. Additionally, we integrate these tools into medical education, enabling trainees to effectively use them as they become integral to future practices and potentially standard care. Our approach is both ambitious in goals and cautious in implementation to ensure safety.
Q. What do you hope HIMSS24 attendees will glean from the panel discussion?
A. We are amid an exciting era of possibilities with generative AI. I hope attendees will grasp the potential of these AI tools, understand systematic approaches for safe and effective use, and recognize the significance of algorithmovigilance in preventing adverse effects.
As the healthcare community braces for the transformative impact of generative AI, the concluding remarks echo a sense of optimism tempered by caution. Dr. Kumah-Crystal’s insights underscore the dual nature of AI exploration – an exciting era of possibilities intertwined with the responsibility of ‘algorithmovigilance.’ HIMSS24 serves as a platform to delve into the heart of GenAI, offering attendees a nuanced understanding of its potential benefits and the imperative need for a vigilant approach. The journey towards integrating AI into healthcare is both ambitious and cautious, steering towards a future where advancements are harnessed responsibly for the betterment of patient care.
