WellSpan operates nine hospitals and more than 250 healthcare locations in central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. A notable aspect of their service is the ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients, catering to the region’s sizable Latino community.
Recently, WellSpan has been exploring the use of AI technology, particularly through ambient documentation tools. These tools assist doctors by summarizing visits with patients, which helps reduce the time spent on paperwork. This means that doctors can focus more on personal interactions during appointments. So far, about 200 physicians have been testing this system, and initial feedback has been positive.
Roxanna Gapstur, the CEO of WellSpan Health, emphasizes that AI is a key part of the organization’s approach to improve the healthcare experience. In a 2024 interview, she explained that AI will help lessen the workload on clinicians. By reducing time spent on notes and documentation, these tools alleviate a significant burden that often drains healthcare providers.
WellSpan is also partnering with AIDOC, a health tech company, to enhance radiology services. Their platform helps radiologists screen patient scans, identifying abnormalities earlier for timely interventions. This collaboration represents a growing trend in healthcare where technology is increasingly used to enhance clinical efficiency and patient care.
The focus on patient experience remains central to WellSpan’s innovations. Gapstur highlights the ongoing effort to make patient interactions smoother and more efficient. The idea is not just to implement technology for technology’s sake, but to create a consumer-centric healthcare experience.
As healthcare continues to evolve, it’s clear that blending technology with traditional care can lead to better outcomes both for patients and providers. By streamlining processes and optimizing clinician workloads, WellSpan is paving the way for a more effective healthcare model.
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