US-based healthcare provider Hartford HealthCare has launched a new Center for AI Innovation in Healthcare, aimed at enhancing patient care through artificial intelligence.  

This facility, which is claimed to be the first of its type in New England and one of the few in the US, represents a significant step in Hartford HealthCare's commitment to AI advancements. 

The launch of this centre further marks the completion of collaborative efforts among multiple institutions, including the University of Oxford in the UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 

Hartford HealthCare president and CEO Jeffrey Flaks said that this centre will serve as an ideal infrastructure to support the research and deployment of various approaches.  

Flaks commented: “As we transform healthcare, we are taking new approaches to innovation. This centre is poised to unlock the full potential of AI, ensuring that every algorithm is not just intelligent, but empathetic and ethical.” 

The new AI innovation hub is built on five foundational elements, the first one being ‘collaboration and partnerships’ to bring together a network of world-class AI partners, including MIT, the University of Oxford, and Google Cloud. 

Groundbreaking AI research is the second pillar, focusing on healthcare applications and the development of algorithms for safe real-world use. 

The third element involves setting rigorous standards and governance to balance innovation with the potential risks of integrating AI into clinical practice.  

Equipping clinical and operational staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to utilise AI safely and effectively is the fourth component.  

The centre aims to test and develop new AI-enabled products that drive improved health outcomes responsibly. 

Hartford HealthCare's innovation also extends to various research initiatives that have already been integrated into clinical and operational practices.  

These mainly include predicting hospital length of stay, Covid-19-related events, patient deterioration, secondary stroke events, joint replacement surgery outcomes, optimising nurse scheduling and operating room efficiency.