What Is Artificial Intelligence?
AI is an exciting new set of technologies that enables computers to perform a variety of advanced functions. This includes the ability to (a) capture, understand and translate clinical data, patient demographics and medical history, and (b) make recommendations based on a highly refined and accelerated data analysis.
It has been said that anesthesia providers exercise the fastest decision-making of all medical specialists. The typical anesthesiologist or CRNA make critical treatment decisions in a matter of seconds. But with AI, data analysis is no longer limited to the human brain, experience and traditional treatment protocols. These new technology options minimize the potential adverse effect of human prejudice and inappropriate decision-making. While the specialty has already achieved an impressive level of patient comfort and safety, AI has the potential to take every provider to the next level of performance.
What Is Required?
Computer technology is the key to the future. Automated anesthesia machines are essential. Providers who complete paper anesthesia records and who do not maintain a comprehensive database of clinical interactions are still operating in the dark ages of intelligence. AI must be built on a vast history of actual cases. What makes the power of AI so effective is the ability to see and interpret patterns of care that go beyond obvious outcomes. What combinations of what clinical factors have what impact on patient comfort and safety? The greatest potential value of AI is to identify and interpret the factors that lead to never events.
As is always necessary for change in medicine, someone needs to lead the process. AI requires a vision of the future. The change agent must be able to articulate the opportunity and enroll the members in its potential. The most important issue for today’s anesthesia practices is a clear value proposition. Embracing AI is perhaps the best value proposition a group can embrace. It is one of the best ways for the change agent to articulate the focus of the practice.
The Fundamental Challenge
Anesthesia providers pride themselves on their ability to manage patients through the trauma of surgery effectively. Every provider has developed strategies that have served them effectively based on personal experience. After all, the specialty is both art and science. Clinicians make the critical decisions. The concept that these are not always appropriate or optimal can be threatening to many. It took years for many practices to accept and embrace the value of automated anesthesia machines. AI represents a similar same challenge, just taken to a new level.
The reality is that AI in the anesthesia space is inevitable. It will be up to each group practice to determine the speed at which this groundbreaking technology is embraced.