WellSpan Hospitals Embrace AI to Bolster Patient Safety and Ease Nurse Burnout

WellSpan Health, a prominent healthcare system in Pennsylvania, is utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) through the Artisight platform to address critical challenges in patient safety and nurse burnout. The initiative includes two key programs:

Virtual Sitter: This program remotely monitors patients at risk for falls, forgetfulness, or tampering with medical equipment. AI algorithms analyze patient movement and trigger alerts if the risk of a fall increases. A virtual nursing assistant can then intervene and call for in-person assistance if necessary.

Virtual Nurse: Nurses can remotely perform routine tasks such as patient admissions, discharges, and education. This helps free up their time for more direct patient interactions and streamlines administrative workflows.

The pilot program at WellSpan Surgery & Rehabilitation Hospital demonstrated significant results, including a 39% reduction in patient falls and a 25% improvement in nurse well-being. The benefits extend to patients, nurses, and the healthcare system, with enhanced safety, increased efficiency, and potential cost savings.

Future expansion possibilities for the Artisight platform at WellSpan include remote specialty consults, virtual family care conferences, and the addition of more virtual nursing tasks. Dr. R. Hal Baker, senior vice president and chief digital information officer at WellSpan, emphasizes the platform's potential to address multiple challenges, expressing excitement about exploring further applications.