AI in Clinical Registries, Data Abstraction

Healthcare IT Career Evolution

Host of AI Amplified, Dr. Heather Bassett, interviewed Greg Miller, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Carta Healthcare. Greg shared his 40-year career journey in healthcare IT, starting with a degree in ski industry management and economics, but entering the field due to a lack of jobs in his intended sector. He described his initial role at Tufts New England Medical Center, where he conducted time and motion studies, and his subsequent career path, which included working with MediCity and Health Catalyst. Greg emphasized his passion for combining healthcare operations and technology, which has driven his long career. Heather discussed her own career path in healthcare and technology, highlighting the importance of scaling in healthcare. Greg explained that scaling involves learning from each customer and making strategic bets, combining operational understanding with strategic insight.

AI in Clinical Data Abstraction

Greg explained his background in healthcare data and his return to work at Carta Healthcare, an AI-focused company that applies artificial intelligence to clinical data abstraction since 2016. He described the significant costs associated with manual clinical data abstraction, which health systems spend between $10-15 billion annually, and highlighted the fragmented nature of this process across different service lines. Greg noted that only a few health systems have successfully centralized their abstraction functions, making it an important but often overlooked aspect of healthcare operations.

AI Evolution in Clinical Registries

Greg explained how Carta Healthcare, founded by Matt Hollingsworth, began using AI in 1999 to automate data abstraction for clinical registries, initially using machine learning and natural language processing. The company recently rebuilt its platform using LLMs, which has improved accuracy from 20-30% to 95%, resulting in significant cost and time savings. Heather noted the evolution from traditional AI to LLMs, comparing it to moving from “old school” to “classic rock” in terms of the technology’s still-relevant capabilities.

AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges

Heather and Greg discussed responsible AI in healthcare, focusing on Carta Healthcare’s approach to registries and abstraction. Greg explained their use of hybrid intelligence, combining AI with clinical expertise, and shared a success story about a nurse who initially doubted but eventually trusted and relied on their AI tool. Heather and Greg also discussed the potential for private sector involvement in funding medical research as federal funding decreases. Greg expressed optimism about AI’s future in healthcare, emphasizing its potential to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve quality.