Every second counts in a hospital. Especially in Massachusetts, where hospital bed occupancy is near capacity and the risk of bed shortages is the second highest in the nation. Patients have grown accustomed to full emergency departments and anyone who works in health care has seen physicians log hours of “pajama time” to catch up on paperwork after long days in the clinic. With demand for certain procedures outpacing capacity, long waits have become too frequent.
Artificial intelligence is the latest tool to improve hospitals’ operations and patient care, but it is not just for major health systems, nor does it need to be cost-prohibitive. Community hospitals are uniquely positioned to adopt and refine AI technologies quickly and safely, testing new techniques and adjusting them based on feedback. However, our human touch must remain central – AI should enhance care, not replace it. If AI enables our clinicians to see even one more patient a day, it equips our health care workers with the tools to better serve our patients and our community.
A recent study indicates that only 3.8% of the hospitals analyzed are “high adopters” of AI. Yet estimates suggest AI could save the U.S. health care system billions of dollars annually. Community hospitals have an opportunity to be at the forefront of this transformation. At Emerson Health, we are actively testing AI to enhance patient care, reduce administrative burden, and increase efficiency across our hospital. Adopting AI, however, is far more complex than flipping a switch – it requires careful planning and rigorous testing. Here are four key considerations before implementation:
1. Start where AI can immediately add value. Last year, we introduced an AI-enabled MRI device at a community site through our partnership with our imaging provider. The new model uses AI to deliver scans up to two-thirds faster while producing higher-quality images. This was a logical starting point because we had an existing relationship with the technologists operating the system and the focus was on improving the MRI patient experience. The results were immediate. Patients who previously spent 35 to 40 minutes inside the scanner now complete their scans in just 10 to 15 minutes. This efficiency allowed us to see six to eight more patients per day, significantly reducing appointment backlogs. Just as important, patients have a more comfortable experience and can return to their daily lives quicker.
2. AI should lighten the load – not add to it. Computers and keyboards were once novelties in exam rooms; today, they are essential but can sometimes create a barrier between providers and patients. To address this issue, we are piloting ambient listening systems that use generative AI to transcribe notes during patient visits. With patient consent, these systems can generate a detailed patient history and assessment in real time. It also reduces after-hours charting and improves note quality while allowing our providers to focus on what matters the most: the patient.
3. Strengthen financial sustainability. Community hospitals nationwide are facing mounting financial pressures. Workforce shortages, rising costs, and reduced reimbursement rates are forcing some facilities to consolidate and others to close. While AI requires upfront investment, it can also serve as a cost-saving tool. At Emerson Health, we are evaluating AI in revenue cycle operations to ensure accurate and proper coding of claims and to reduce costly miscoding errors that delay reimbursement. A process that previously took a highly skilled coder hours to complete can now be done in seconds. The financial savings generated can be reinvested into patient care – helping hospitals maintain critical services and even expand them.
For hospitals concerned about costs, AI adoption can be phased in gradually, starting with partnerships, grant funding, or vendor collaborations to minimize financial strain.
4. Keep privacy and security at the forefront. While AI holds great promise, it also introduces new cybersecurity challenges. Patient data security must be non-negotiable, and hospitals must ensure that every AI-driven tool meets the high standards of HIPAA compliance and encryption. Key security measures that we prioritize include strict vetting of AI vendors to ensure compliance with data protection laws; multi-layered security protocols to guard against cyber threats; and ongoing staff training to prevent data breaches and maintain best practices. With cyberattacks on the rise in healthcare, hospital CEOs must make security a top priority when implementing AI.
Emerson Health’s AI journey is just beginning. But the early results speak for themselves. Our investments are already improving patient experience, easing clinicians’ workloads, and generating cost savings.
As AI continues to evolve into diagnostic and interventional frontiers, community hospitals must take an active role in shaping their future. I encourage my hospital CEO colleagues to embrace this opportunity and harness the power of this exciting new technology.
Christine Schuster, RN, MBA is president & CEO of Emerson Health in Concord, Mass.