Children's Mercy Kansas City and GE HealthCare launch AI-based pediatric hub

The 6,000-square foot hub will use AI, predictive analytics, and real-time info to optimize care

In 2021, the artificial intelligence in healthcare market was worth around $11 billion, and it is forecast to be worth almost $188 billion by 2030. The technology holds a lot of promise in healthcare, even if patients are still a bit wary over it. 

Children's Mercy Kansas City, an independent children's health organization, announced a partnership with GE Healthcare to launch a new hospital operations center, called the Patient Progression Hub, which uses AI, predictive analytics, and real-time information to optimize care progression and coordination.

This makes Children's Mercy the first freestanding pediatric hospital to collaborate with GE HealthCare to embed this technology in its operations.

The 6,000-square foot hub, which the company says was inspired by NASA's mission control center, includes a video wall with customized analytic apps, or "tiles" to monitor and manage the flow of patients. The system uses AI algorithms to identify potential issues, enabling care teams to proactively solve problems before they arise.

Founded in 1897, Children's Mercy operates not-for-profit hospitals in Missouri and Kansas, and numerous specialty clinics in both states. It employs more than 850 pediatric subspecialists, researchers and faculty across more than 40 subspecialties.

The idea behind the Hub is to improve access, streamline the flow of patients, enhance discharge planning, improve staffing needs, and forecast patient demand, which it does through centralized bed placement; real-time data that allows staff to address potential delays; AI that predicts patient census levels 24 and 48 hours in advance; and real-time data and predictive analytics that track each patient's journey so that staff can prioritize tests, procedures and medicines that gets patients discharged, opening a bed for another patient who needs it.

"With the activation of the Patient Progression Hub, Children's Mercy will be at the forefront of technology-enabled innovation in patient flow, quality outcomes and safety," Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, at Children's Mercy, said in a statement.

"By maximizing the use of actionable, real-time, and predictive data, we will improve the experience of our patients, families and team members alike."

In January, GE Healthcare debuted on Nasdaq after officially spinning-off from its parent company, following an announcement from GE late last year that it would be splitting into three companies: GE Aerospace, GE HealthCare, and GE Verona (which is the combination of GE Renewable Energy, GE Power, GE Digital, and GE Energy Financial Services).  

Since becoming its own company, GE Healthcare has entered into an agreement to acquire  IMACTIS, a company in the field of computed tomography interventional guidance, as well as buying ultrasound guidance startup Caption Health.

The company has also partnered with Advantus Health Partners, a health care solutions company, to provide GE HealthCare’s Healthcare Technology Management services to Advantus Health Partners’ clients for 10 years, as well as an announcement of US FDA 510(k) clearance of its CARESCAPE Canvas patient monitoring platform.

"Our goal is to make it easier for Children's Mercy to orchestrate daily patient care, which in the end means it's that much easier to answer the crucial question: can you accept this child," Jeff Terry, CEO, Command Centers at GE HealthCare, said in a statement. 

"The Patient Progression Hub combines several existing teams into a new center-of-gravity for patient access and supports throughput and quality care delivery. GE HealthCare is proud to provide its 'Command Center' software which is used in the Hub and across Children's Mercy."

(Image source: childrensmercy.org)