About three in five physicians used augmented intelligence (AI)—also called artificial intelligence—in their practice in 2024, according to an AMA survey.
Physicians inside the not-for-profit Sutter Health network in California were among those testing how AI could help their practices and their patients. Now, thanks to a new strategic partnership with GE HealthCare, those same physicians will have even greater access to the latest AI advancements.
“There’s tremendous demand for imaging services here at Sutter Health,” said Jason Wiesner, MD, chair of the health system’s imaging service line. “To support patients in getting timely care and results, we’re focused—through this partnership—on bringing in tools that expand access and streamline the imaging journey.”
Sutter Health is part of the AMA Health System Member Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
Dr. Wiesner talked about the Care Alliance and its potential impact in a recent episode of “AMA Update.”
A broad approach to AI advancement
Thanks to the Care Alliance, Sutter Health will be able to update and refresh its existing fleet of imaging equipment. The average age across the health system's fleet of imaging equipment is currently more than 10 years old, according to Dr. Wiesner. His goal is to see that average age fall below five years.
"We're taking a very broad approach, a very aggressive approach to refreshing our imaging equipment and getting the latest and greatest technology in front of our clinicians and our technologists and our radiologists," he said. "We're already seeing equipment shipped out to care centers, and that's causing a lot of excitement, a lot of buzz."
More than 100 ultrasound units have already been deployed across the system, Dr. Wiesner said. The updated ultrasound systems are just one example of the advanced AI-powered imaging technology and digital solutions that will benefit Sutter Health patients. The health system's ambulatory care centers will also benefit from GE HealthCare's anesthesia, diagnostic cardiology, interventional, mammography, and maternal and infant care solutions.
"We really want the technologists to go from care center to care center and have the same equipment that they can work with and feel comfortable so they can provide the same type of care for our patients and that the image quality is high," Dr. Wiesner said. "As that goes to our doctors, the diagnosis can be made with a lot of confidence."
From AI implementation to EHR adoption and usability, the AMA is fighting to make technology work for physicians, ensuring that it is an asset to doctors—not a burden.
Using AI to become more efficient
GE HealthCare will take over the servicing of all Sutter Health's equipment. As a result, the health system can expect improved monitoring and systems that are updated with the latest software and capabilities.
Additionally, GE HealthCare will lead training efforts for physicians and other health professionals on how to best leverage the new technology. For example, thanks to the Care Alliance, Sutter Health will be able to accelerate its scans, allowing for more access and availability for patients.
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Technologists within the system will become more efficient in measuring and identifying the contours of an organ, a repetitive process that Dr. Wiesner called both cognitively and physically difficult.
As physicians continue to face an increased number of complicated exams, Dr. Wiesner said AI can help reduce that backlog. In fact, he said Sutter Health is already seeing the benefit.
"We're doing that with things like computer-aided detection, AI-generated CAD tools that can help radiologists not only be more confident in the diagnosis but also give them some productivity gains as they move from case to case," he said.
Using AI to solve problems
More and more of Dr. Wiesner's time is being spent introducing AI tools to physicians within Sutter’s system. Before the Care Alliance was announced, Dr. Wiesner said he spent months talking to those physicians about AI and its potential. He wanted to make sure the technology being introduced would actually solve problems, rather than just being a fancy new piece of technology that gets in the way of patient care.
"We wanted to make sure that we were making the right decision for our clinicians," he said, "so that they had the tools that they felt comfortable with, and that includes referring physicians from all of our service lines."
The Care Alliance is officially a seven-year strategic partnership. Just months into the collaboration, Dr. Wiesner said the impact is already being felt.
"AI has the potential to really transform the future of imaging," he said. The partnership "makes all of us in the care centers feel like we're getting the latest and greatest technology. We get excited about doing our job. We're building a big wave that we're going to ride for the next several years with GE."
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