At Morristown Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, the relentless pursuit of superior patient care fuels a culture of innovation. This commitment has led them to embrace the transformative capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in the high-stakes arena of pulmonary embolism (PE) management.
We had the pleasure of speaking with two physician leaders who championed an AI integration: Chirag Shah, MD, MSCE, Chairman of Medicine and Pulmonology Critical Care Specialist, and David Sousa, MD, FCCM, Division Chief for Pulmonary Care and Critical Care Medicine. They offered compelling insights into the tangible impact AI is having on their daily clinical practice and, most importantly, the lives of their patients.
When a PE is discovered, care teams need to act quickly. Dr. Sousa framed the challenge: “The reality of PE is that time is of the essence. Any delay in identifying and treating this condition can have profound consequences for our patients.” Dr. Sousa began searching for solutions that helped their team move even faster. He explains, “Our focus was on identifying solutions that could bolster our existing protocols, ensuring we could act with even greater speed and precision.”
Dr. Shah built upon this, highlighting the inherent complexities: “Even with a highly skilled team and well-established protocols, the sheer volume of imaging studies we interpret daily, coupled with the often subtle presentation of PEs, introduces the potential for delays. We recognized that a technology acting as a continuous, vigilant second pair of eyes could be truly transformative.”
Driven by a clear vision for enhanced patient care, the organization strategically integrated Aidoc’s clinical AI into their diagnostic pathway. Dr. Shah articulated the core reasoning: “The power of AI to rapidly and accurately analyze complex medical images was undeniable. The prospect of a system proactively scanning for critical findings like PE, providing real-time alerts, was a compelling step forward.”
Dr. Sousa then detailed the specific impact of the Aidoc solution: “What Aidoc provides is a layer of immediate intelligence. As CT pulmonary angiograms (CTPA) are being processed, the AI is simultaneously analyzing the data. When a high probability of PE is flagged, the system alerts our team, often before the final radiology report is even available. This near real-time notification fundamentally changes our ability to respond.”
Implementing Aidoc’s clinical AI created measurable improvements in both clinical workflows and, crucially, patient outcomes. Dr. Sousa shared a powerful illustration: “We’ve experienced cases where Aidoc’s AI identified a likely PE while the patient was still in the CT scanner. This early alert allowed us to immediately activate our PERT, initiate preliminary discussions with radiology, and expedite the initiation of life-saving treatment. This level of rapid, coordinated response was simply not consistently achievable in our pre-AI workflow.”
Dr. Shah further emphasized the impact on their multidisciplinary team: “The integration of Aidoc has significantly streamlined our PERT activation. The high-confidence alerts provide our team with the critical information needed to make swift, informed decisions. This efficiency translates directly to faster interventions and a more effective allocation of our resources, ultimately benefiting our patients.”
Both Dr. Shah and Dr. Sousa share an optimistic vision for the evolving role of AI in healthcare. Dr. Sousa remarked, “Our positive experience with AI in PE management has opened our eyes to its broader potential. We are actively exploring other clinical areas where AI can provide similar advantages, enabling earlier detection of critical conditions and driving improved patient outcomes across the spectrum of care.”
Dr. Shah concluded with a powerful perspective: “This is not about replacing the invaluable expertise of our clinicians; it’s about empowering them with cutting-edge tools. Aidoc’s AI acts as an intelligent assistant, enhancing our vigilance, optimizing our efficiency, and ultimately enabling us to deliver even higher quality care to our patients. The tangible impact we’ve witnessed in PE management is just the beginning of an exciting journey.”
The experience at Atlantic Health System serves as a compelling testament to the transformative potential of AI in a critical clinical domain. By embracing AI, they have not only optimized their operational efficiency but, more importantly, have significantly enhanced their capacity to deliver timely, life-changing interventions that improve patient outcomes.
Aidoc experts, customers and industry leaders share the latest in AI benefits and adoption.
Explore how clinical AI can transform your health system with insights rooted in real-world experiences.
Learn how to go beyond the algorithm to develop a scalable AI strategy and implementation plan.
Explore how Aidoc can help increase hospital efficiency, improve outcomes and demonstrate ROI.
