In recent years, artificial intelligence has revolutionized multiple sectors including business, transportation, health care, education and more. So how will it impact our communities moving forward?

As technology advances, artificial intelligence continues to play a more prominent role in our daily existence. It has permeated our lives in countless ways and although it has become an essential part of our everyday routine, we oftentimes don’t even realize how much we use it. On any given day, we may utilize virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa, communicate with an online customer service chatbot, handle banking transactions online or receive driving directions with real-time traffic updates.

One area where AI has had a significant impact is in the medical field. Both AdventHealth and Orlando Health have long been exploring the integration of AI into their operations. Recently, Orlando Health expanded its virtual nursing abilities with the ThinkAndor Virtual Hospital, which has shown impressive results so far.

Darius Love, assistant vice president of workforce optimization and redesign at Orlando Health explains, “Very foundationally, we have proven that transferring some of the administrative tasks that accompany the work of clinicians has the ability to enhance patient experience, as well as create avenues for the enhancement of physical touchpoints for bedside clinicians. Our virtual nurses have focused and uninterrupted moments in time to walk our patients through admissions, education and discharge education, which ensures these touchpoints are impactful to the patient, their families and the bedside team.”

Love adds that the program has been well received by both medical staff and patients alike. “Patients and families have had very positive responses to the creation of our foundational building of a ‘virtual reality,’” she says. “Our team members have been open to the evolution of care; our virtual team members are an extension of our bedside team members, we move about with the same focus; providing high quality, patient-centered care. Our team members and leaders are looking forward to embracing the aspects of a virtual hospital at their site.”

Similarly, Dr. Victor Herrera, chief clinical officer of AdventHealth Central Florida, says its health care system is looking into ways “to integrate an ambient listening tool during physician/patient visits so that the doctor can focus solely on talking to the patient, while the AI tool transcribes the relevant information for the patient’s record and documentation, which the doctor then reviews after the visit, adjusts as needed and signs off on. In imaging, doctors can now use algorithm technology to detect early signs of stroke based on brain image scans. All health information remains private and protected by patient privacy laws, and tools like this do not replace a clinician, but can assist.”

In addition, AdventHealth has “Mission Control,” one of the nation’s largest health care command centers, making clinical operations across the health system as efficient as possible.

“We use AI to inform and guide decision-making in areas including ambulance and helicopter dispatch, patient transfers between units and facilities, and prioritization of placement and treatment. Command center technology has been shown to reduce wait times, expediting needed care,” says Herrera.

With all the advancements being made, one concern many people have is the possibility of AI replacing health care workers. Dr. Herrera reassuringly states that will most certainly not be the case.

“These tools will not replace, but augment the capabilities of the workforce and will help them be more effective and efficient doing their jobs, while improving their experience when taking care of patients,’ he says.

Orange County is also embracing AI, as the technology is helping to streamline key areas of operation, and in some cases has been doing so for some time now, according to Simone Babb, the county’s chief innovation and emerging technologies officer.

“AI is being used in several departments throughout Orange County Government and continues to be evaluated for introduction into new use cases. AI has been actively used to protect the county’s digital infrastructure for the past six years. Active projects are evaluated for the use of AI,” she says. “Pilots with Google and Microsoft are ongoing in areas of 311—the county’s non-emergency help and information resource—our traffic engineering and to enhance overall workplace productivity.

“Orange County is also working with third-party companies to enhance human resources and establish its own internal AI platform for future use by various departments, including public safety, procurement, medical services and many others.”

All three experts we spoke with are quick to highlight the importance of properly vetting any technology such as AI before launching. “While this new technology is exciting and innovative, we continue to tread with the appropriate caution to safeguard all of Orange County’s resources and data,” affirms Babb.

Dr. Herrera echoes that sentiment adding, “Our AI Advisory Board is continuously learning about and vetting potential uses for AI in our industry. We have a responsibility to our team members and patients to embrace new technology when it makes sense and has been thoroughly vetted to ensure that it will further improve the care we provide.”

As with any new innovation, obstacles are inevitable. And as Babb notes, “It is important to take the appropriate time to review and monitor AI solutions before implementing them.”

“Technology is rapidly evolving, the challenge for health care will be keeping up and being open and willing to being in a constant state of optimization with the understanding that as technology evolves the design of our work will evolve, too,” offers Love.