Implementations
After a comprehensive evaluation, we implemented 2 ClearRead (Riverain Technologies) AI radiology solutions. ClearRead CT Vessel Suppress produces a secondary series of computed tomography (CT) images, suppressing vessels and other normal structures within the lungs to improve nodule detectability, and ClearRead Xray Bone Suppress, which increases the visibility of soft tissue in standard chest X-rays by suppressing the bone on the digital image without the need for 2 exposures.
The role of the education subcommittee is to educate the staff about AI and how it can improve patient care. Every Friday, we email an AI article of the week to our practitioners. In addition, we publish a newsletter, and we organize an annual AI conference. The first conference in 2022 included speakers from the National AI Institute, Moffitt Cancer Center, the University of South Florida, and our facility.
As the name indicates, the data sharing and acquisition subcommittee oversees preparing data for our clinical and research projects. The role of the research subcommittee is to coordinate and promote AI research with the ultimate goal of improving patient care.
Other Technologies
Although 3D printing does not fall under the umbrella of AI, we have decided to include it in our future-oriented AI committee. We created an online 3D printing course to promote the technology throughout the VA. We 3D print organ models to help surgeons prepare for complicated operations. In addition, together with our colleagues from the University of Florida, we used 3D printing to address the shortage of swabs for COVID-19 testing. The VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (Veterans Integrated Services Network 8) has an active Innovation and Improvement Committee. 9 Our improvement and innovation subcommittee serves as a coordinating body with the network committee .
Conclusions
Through the hospital AI committee, we believe that we may overcome many obstacles to successfully implementing AI applications in the clinical setting, including the ethical use of data, trust in the AI models, regulatory barriers, and lack of clinical buy-in due to insufficient basic AI knowledge.
Acknowledgments
This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital.