Artificial intelligence systems will be trialled at Perth’s main trauma hospital in a bid to free up doctors and nurses, as new data reveals WA’s emergency departments (EDs) are among the most stretched in the nation.<\/p>\n
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found fewer than half of WA ED patients were being seen within recommended time frames.<\/p>\n
Those issues are generally a reflection of pressures on hospital wards, which are unable to take patients out of EDs until beds can be freed up.<\/p>\n
In a bid to try and keep patients flowing through hospitals, Health Minister Meredith Hammat told a business breakfast this morning WA Health would be funded to trial using artificial intelligence at Royal Perth Hospital.<\/p>\n Health Minister Meredith Hammat says AI could improve “how people move through our hospital system”. (ABC News: Courtney Withers<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n She said it would be used to help “forecast options” and offer “predictive insights” from the moment patients arrive at hospital.<\/p>\n “It will also assist health workers to schedule important tasks like medical imaging, laboratory tests, pharmacy medication packs and the preparation of discharge summaries,” Ms Hammat said.<\/p>\n “The pilot is designed to improve patient flow and hospital bed availability, especially during the winter surge period.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The health minister said the technology was “not about patient care so much” because that would remain the responsibility of professionals.<\/p>\n “But how people move through our hospital system, so that we can make sure people are discharged as soon as possible with everything that they need,” she said.<\/p>\n Ms Hammat later explained one area of focus for the trial would be making earlier decisions about what assistance might be needed to discharge a patient.<\/p>\n The idea is the AI use inside the hospital will free up doctors and nurses to focus on patient care. (ABC News: Cason Ho<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n “We do know that one of the challenges for our health system is for those older patients who are not able to be discharged from hospital until they have in place appropriate aged care support,” she said.<\/p>\n “So the use of AI will allow some consideration about whether [for] particular patients, that might be an issue for them.<\/p>\n “It would allow the planning to start earlier and provide for that appropriate support earlier in their journey.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
Aged care support for older patients<\/h2>\n
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