James Lindsey is the Director of IT Strategy and Innovation at Texas Oncology.
When we introduced AI into clinics, we didn’t expect it to do anything other than document. Healthcare is known for its administrative demands, and AI seemed like a way to alleviate that burden. But the experience surprised me. It turns out that AI has a knack for finding information where we haven’t been able to explore. What started as a writing tool to organize notes ended up giving us a new perspective on patient care itself.
There’s something almost humbling about it: how software can break through barriers to better understand our patients. And I wonder: What other seemingly mundane tasks could be a gold mine of ideas if we look at them differently?
Better focus on the patient
One of the most unexpected gifts AI has given us is time. During a typical clinic visit, a doctor often juggles the patient and a screen, making sure every detail is documented. When AI started handling this, it allowed us to get back to basics: just being with the patient. No more clicking on a keyboard or glancing between screens – just simple, focused conversation.
Patients noticed the difference immediately. They felt heard in a way that, honestly, sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. Nothing can really replace that direct human connection. If technology can support human connections in a healthcare environment, it’s a win for everyone involved.
New potential for real-time care
What’s really exciting is that AI can be useful in ways you didn’t anticipate. We initially thought our writing assistant was just a note-taking aid, but it soon became clear that it could help us make decisions in real time. AI doesn’t just track data: it can flag important insights as they arise. From identifying conditions that may need special attention to suggesting matches to clinical trials, AI has begun to take an active role in the care process.
It reminds us that sometimes you have to start using a tool to see what it can actually do. I am still learning to be open to these surprises and let them shape our approach to patient care. Yet, not all commercially available AI solutions can meet our needs. Providers want accuracy, but also want their notes to reflect their voice and accommodate their formatting preferences. They want personalization of how the AI works for each of them. And they want a tool that best serves their patients.
Privacy and security remain the foundation
Like providers, my goal through these advancements is to protect the people we serve. We took the time to evaluate different options to see which one best met our needs and our high standards for privacy and security. I advise others to do the same and really take the time to evaluate your options when testing different use cases.
Any AI implementation must remain HIPAA compliant, and we have processes in place to ensure our data processing remains secure. But it goes way beyond a simple checklist. For patients, knowing that their data is handled with care is fundamental to the trust we build with them.
AI is powerful, but its value depends on how trusted it is. If we can’t maintain that, the benefits don’t matter. This journey has reinforced the need to keep privacy, security and transparency at the heart of all innovation.
Time and energy to focus on what matters
Healthcare leaders are finding it increasingly difficult to ignore the practical benefits. AI can certainly make our work more efficient, but more importantly, it gives doctors back some of their personal time. It may seem trivial, but when you don’t come home with hours of notes still hanging over your head, it changes everything. This allows doctors to come back the next day ready to focus on their patients rather than feeling exhausted.
For patients, this change is just as important. They have a more present and attentive doctor. A doctor who can hold hands in difficult situations instead of typing on a computer. It reminded me of something simple but crucial: When health care works well, it benefits everyone involved.
Looking to the future
If I learned anything from this experience, it’s that AI has a way of surprising you. I didn’t see it coming – not in this way – and yet here it is, opening the doors to a more connected, patient-centered approach to care.
I’m thinking about where this might take us in health care and I’m hopeful. It feels like a chance to return healthcare to its roots, where the focus is always on the patient. And that, for me, is the very essence of this technology.
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