Artificial intelligence (AI) provides valuable tools to help diagnose diseases. Doctors can use AI in medical diagnosis to assist in their decision-making and streamline the process. As the use of AI in health care diagnosis increases, it becomes important to test, evaluate and monitor its effectiveness.
The path to implementing new technology, procedures or processes at OSF HealthCare is guided by OSF Innovation. The Performance Improvement (PI) team collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to identify and prioritize opportunities to introduce new and innovative solutions. Once the solution is evaluated through the discovery process, the team works with internal experts and operational leaders to validate the opportunity by applying OSF data to understand the potential impact.
More and more of these opportunities involve the use of AI in health care. The PI team recently collaborated with gastroenterologist Omar Khokhar, MD, to pilot GI Genius, an FDA-approved intelligent endoscopy module using deep learning algorithms to enhance polyp detection during colonoscopies. GI Genius is currently being used by OSF providers in a six-month pilot program at Eastland Medical Plaza Surgicenter in Bloomington, Illinois.
GI Genius harnesses deep learning algorithms and real-time data, to empower physicians to detect and treat colorectal polyps through enhanced visualization. The AI tool was built with a large library of images from previous colonoscopies. That database is included in the module and connected to the doctor’s endoscopy tools, allowing it to review colonoscopy images in real-time during the procedure. This technology frames the endoscopist’s screen with a green box to highlight suspected polyps, enabling doctors to make more informed removal decisions.
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While the use of AI in medical diagnosis can be a great support tool, it doesn’t replace the expertise of a provider’s highly-trained eye. “In this case, it’s really just helping the clinician as extra support,” said Dr. Khokhar. “It doesn’t take over the scope. It doesn’t decide anything for me or anyone else using it. Ultimately, it’s up to me as the human to determine what is pinpointed.”
Benefits of AI in medical imaging
Colonoscopies are important for the prevention of colorectal cancer. Early polyp detection is key. The adenoma detection rate (ADR) is a key metric used to evaluate the quality of an endoscopist’s practice. It is defined as the percentage of patients aged 50 and older undergoing their first screening colonoscopy who have one or more precancerous polyps detected.
Research shows that for every one percent increase in ADR, the colorectal cancer risk decreases by three percent. Medtronic, the maker of GI Genius, found that using the module can increase ADR by 14%. In the first month of the OSF pilot, the PI team reported a 5.8% increase in ADR.
“I think if something’s out there that helps catch precancerous lesions in a more effective way it’s worth looking at,” said Dr. Khokhar. “If we can find something that could potentially lead to cancer, we have our two eyeballs to find it, but then if we have a database that’s analyzing that image in real time also as we’re looking, why not use it?”
Role of OSF Innovation
The PI team, part of OSF Innovation, helps physicians like Khokhar implement new tools like GI Genius.
“This pilot and the validation process that preceded it is a really tangible example of our OSF Innovation ecosystem coming together to support the needs of those on the front lines,” said Julie Traenkenschuh, a director in Performance Improvement. “As a Performance Improvement team, we are always excited for the opportunity to work directly with our clinicians to identify and implement new tools that can support delivery of excellent care to drive better outcomes for patients.”
Pilots are small, controlled tests of change that help inform logistics, learn new insights, prove value and uncover opportunities in new technologies and services. In the case of GI Genius, once the pilot is completed, the PI team will work with OSF leaders to determine if the desired results were achieved and evaluate the potential for deployment of this technology throughout the Ministry.
As AI continues to assist doctors in their work, its role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy and improving patient outcomes becomes increasingly valuable. By testing and validating these tools, OSF makes sure they benefit both patients and providers. This paves the way for broader use and better health care delivery.
Last Updated: August 13, 2024