Transforming Healthcare through Technology Innovation
Advancements in technology are key in meeting the growing need for patient-centered, efficient and cost-effective solutions in the complex and dynamic healthcare industry. Read on for just a few recent examples of how UHS is leveraging technology to enhance the delivery of care.
UHS Joined Hippocratic AI’s Founding Partner Program
In August, UHS joined several other health systems and digital health companies in the formation of Hippocratic AI’s Founding Partner Program.
Hippocratic AI, a company founded by a group of physicians, hospital administrators, Medicare professionals and artificial intelligence researchers, is building the industry’s first safety-focused Large Language Model (LLM) designed specifically for healthcare, with an initial emphasis of non-diagnostic, patient-facing applications. To build a safer LLM, Hippocratic AI has implemented a multi-faceted approach in creating its product, including working closely with industry experts to verify the model is truly safe.
The Founding Partner Program involves leading health systems and digital health companies in both the United States and Canada, who will play an integral role in developing Hippocratic AI’s technology.
The Founding Partners will help ensure the safety and shaping of the technology. Over the course of their partnerships, they will:
- guide the development of the model;
- participate in Data Governance and Model Safety committees;
- establish use cases;
- engage their medical professionals in conducting reinforcement learning with human feedback and;
- validate clinical and patient safety.
“Across our large network of locations, both nationally and internationally, we recognize that global issues facing healthcare today — such as access to care, staffing challenges, consumer expectations and the need for operational efficiencies — will only grow over time,” said UHS President and CEO Marc D. Miller. “Partnering with Hippocratic AI promises to be game-changing, as we together seek to develop, validate and leverage technology that will evolve how individuals interact with service providers, and in our industry, transform and improve the way healthcare is delivered.”
Behavioral Health Facilities Adding Oracle Cerner Health’s EHR and ObservSMART Technology to Select Facilities
Behavioral Health Services continues to expand the Oracle Cerner Health electronic health record (EHR) at select Behavioral Health facilities. Acute Care facilities have used Oracle Cerner Health’s technology for a decade. On the Behavioral Health side, Fairmount Behavioral Health System, Friends Hospital, Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital, The Horsham Clinic and Hampton Behavioral Health Center have rolled out the EHR with more facilities scheduled to go live in 2024. With this expansion, UHS will now have access to a single, unified EHR in acute and behavioral health facilities across the United States to better inform care decisions and help improve patient safety practices. The EHR, co-developed by Oracle Health, UHS IT and UHS Clinical teams, has also been implemented in Acute Care Behavioral Health Pavilions and inpatient psychiatry units.
In addition, several Behavioral Health facilities have also adopted ObservSMART, a product of InvisALERT, over the course of 2022 and 2023. ObservSMART supports timely and compliant patient observation processes through the use of patient wearables, similar to a Fitbit, and tablets used by staff while they conduct patient observations. The technology sends reminders and alerts to help further ensure that required rounds are completed efficiently and effectively. The division continues to monitor metrics in the select facilities where ObservSmart has been implemented.
“With our focus on patient safety and providing superior care, access to more complete and accurate health information and data through technology will better inform care decisions, enhance health outcomes, improve medical behavioral integration, and ultimately support value-based care,” said Matt Peterson, President, Behavioral Health Division.
UHS continues to explore opportunities to leverage technologies that drive efficiencies and improve quality, benefiting patients across the healthcare continuum in both Behavioral Health and Acute Care settings. Look for more examples in future issues of UHS News.