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Sutter Health is incorporating artificial intelligence-powered decision support technology into its electronic health record workflows so doctors will be able to access updated care guidelines, studies and more at the point of care, health system and vendor OpenEvidence said.
The evidence-based platform launching within the not-for-profit health system's Epic EHR will enable physicians to use natural language to search and quickly find up-to-date clinical data while meeting quality and safety standards, the organizations added.
WHY IT MATTERS
Laura Wilt, Sutter Health's chief digital officer, said the organizations share a vision for "reimagining healthcare for the better" by advancing clinical support.
"It’s how we’re transforming the way we serve patients, support care teams and improve outcomes," she said.
THE LARGER TREND
The California health system began using generative AI two years ago to reduce clinician burnout and improve organizational sustainability. Dr. Albert Chan, Sutter Health's chief health information officer, said in a statement at the time that the generative AI platform helped providers "recharge."
In working with Sutter Health, OpenEvidence aims to advance healthcare sustainability and medical AI safety, said Dr. Travis Zack, OpenEvidence's chief medical officer.
Clinical decision support has improved patient outcomes and optimized resource use for many years, but recent scientific studies suggest that newer generative AI tech could enhance performance.
Last year, Mass General Brigham researchers found value in a hybrid approach.
For a yearlong study, they compared two large language models (LLMs) – OpenAI's GPT-4 and Google's Gemini 1.5 – with the health system's diagnostic decision support system, DXplain.
While the long-used homegrown decision support platform outperformed the LLMs in accurately diagnosing patient cases, researchers said that AI and decision support might work better together. The MGB researchers described pairing DXplain with an LLM to improve the clinical efficacy of both systems in their report.
"A hybrid approach that combines the parsing and expository linguistic capabilities of LLMs with the deterministic and explanatory capabilities of traditional DDSSs may produce synergistic benefits," they said.
ON THE RECORD
"Digital innovation plays a central role in our work to build a more connected, proactive and sustainable healthcare system," Wilt said in the announcement.
"Patients benefit when providers have the most current and relevant evidence incorporated into clinical decision-making," added Dr. Ashley Beecy, Sutter Health's chief AI officer.
Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
