In the rapidly evolving field of radiology, embracing innovation is key to staying ahead and delivering exceptional patient care. UConn Health, under the leadership of Leo J. Wolansky, MD, Professor and Chair of Radiology and Section Head of Neuroradiology, has firmly positioned itself as an early adopter of AI. I recently spoke with Dr. Wolansky about UConn Health’s initial mindset, the tangible impact of AI and his advice for other healthcare facilities considering this transformative technology.
Dr. Wolansky, a 35-year Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting veteran, recalled a pivotal presentation that highlighted the explosive growth of AI in radiology. “There was a fascinating presentation about AI there… the number of AI companies that have appeared in the sphere in the last four years,” he noted, emphasizing the clear trajectory of AI in the field.
Given radiology’s early digitization with the widespread adoption of PACS, it was a natural fit for AI integration. “Radiology was clearly a field that was going to adopt AI quickly because you didn’t have so many subjective outcomes. A pixel is a pixel is a pixel,” Dr. Wolansky explained.
Despite the initial ambivalence that often accompanies innovation, Dr. Wolansky recognized the immense opportunity. He shared, “Progress is a steamroller, and you want to be driving the steamroller, or otherwise you’ll be part of the road.” He spearheaded UConn Health’s early adoption of AI. This included integrating an AI curriculum into the radiology residency program and proactively establishing an enterprise agreement with Aidoc.
While the initial mindset was rooted in staying ahead of the curve, Dr. Wolansky shared a compelling anecdote that underscored AI’s immediate impact on daily practice. “It’s remarkable the way that you may be using your usual common sense way of looking at scans, and Aidoc will flag a case that you’re not looking at and alert you that there is an intracranial hemorrhage.”
He described a scenario where he was engrossed in a complex brain tumor case, reviewing multiple prior scans. In the midst of this demanding task, Aidoc flagged a new scan showing a suspected intracranial hemorrhage. “So, I just put aside the case that I’m looking at that’s very complicated, and look at the case that Aidoc flagged. And before you know it, I’m securely texting our chief of neurosurgery saying we have an intracranial hemorrhage in the emergency room (ER).”
Dr. Wolansky highlighted AI’s ability to triage cases effectively, especially in high-volume environments. “You can easily triage cases yourself, but you just can’t really be everywhere. If you have 20 patient scans to read, you may not realize that this is the one that needs to be read first.”
Dr. Wolansky addressed the common concern of AI replacing radiologists head-on. “One of the key features to allow the adoption of AI is to realize that it’s not a threat to you. It is a tool.” He drew a parallel to the introduction of MRI, where initial fears were quickly replaced by widespread adoption and increased opportunities.
He emphasized AI’s role in streamlining routine tasks. “There are many things that we do that are very stimulating in radiology, but there’s also many things that we do that are routine, and things like measuring the amount of midline shift… it can be somewhat tedious.” AI’s precision in these tasks frees up radiologists to focus on more complex and intellectually stimulating aspects of their work, such as differential diagnoses. “It puts radiologists’ time to good use, and you can focus on the things where your contribution is unique.”
Dr. Wolansky noted that while residents, encountering so much new information, might not immediately grasp the full novelty of AI, they are undoubtedly benefiting from its integration. “They’re embracing it and utilizing it very well and doing some publishing as well. So, it’s an opportunity for them to grow their careers.”
He also highlighted the crucial role of AI during overnight shifts when a single resident might be covering the entire hospital. “When you’re distracted, that’s particularly a situation where it’s possible to break with your routine… and the AI will assist because the AI doesn’t get distracted by a conversation in the room, or doesn’t get stressed.”
Dr. Wolansky’s advice to other healthcare facilities considering AI integration is clear and concise: “I would say that a radiologist with AI is better than a radiologist without AI.” He echoed the sentiment that while AI won’t replace radiologists, those who use AI will have a significant advantage. “It’s really so valuable. It makes you more efficient,” he said.
Looking ahead, Dr. Wolansky envisions further expansion of AI within UConn Health’s radiology department, particularly into modalities like MRI. “Once you get to see how valuable using AI is, you want it more and more and more.” He expressed enthusiasm for the continued development and integration of AI tools.
Dr. Wolansky delivered a powerful endorsement of AI in radiology. “I think that artificial intelligence, as championed by Aidoc, is a must. I think every radiology department should have it. I think that you will never want to go back once you’ve had it because it’s so valuable. It makes you more efficient, and it helps you keep your patients safe.”
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