AI to be trialled at Royal Perth Hospital in bid to reduce pressure on WA health system

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The WA government has announced it's turning to artificial intelligence to help free up doctors and nurses to focus on patient care. It comes as data revealed the State's emergency departments were among the most stretched in the nation in the past year.

Transcript

00:00The number's shocking but not surprising to doctors.

00:05I'm not surprised really to see that we have the longest ED wait times in the country.

00:10Health authorities revealing WA's patients are waiting an average of 44 minutes,

00:16more than double the national average.

00:18That's despite recording one of the smallest increases in ED presentations in the country.

00:24Obviously we're concerned about those figures and that's why we've been very clear about

00:28our plan to do more.

00:30The government turning to technology.

00:32There's two elements that have been announced today.

00:35One is a database in our state health operations centre that will allow us to see

00:40real-time data, available beds in our health system.

00:45The other, an artificial intelligence trial at Royal Perth Hospital to assist staff

00:49with tasks like scheduling medical tests, imaging and preparing discharge summaries.

00:55While AI can be a useful tool, this government have had a shocking record when it has come

01:03to digital delivery.

01:05After all, WA is one of the only states in the nation that still doesn't have an electronic

01:11medical record system.

01:13And there's only so much AI can do with dire bed shortages having the minister flirt with

01:19the idea of purchasing another privately-owned hospital after the collapse of the mount's

01:24current operator, Healthscope.

01:26I think if the mount were to fall into another provider's hands, that would be a real disappointment.

01:31That would be a missed opportunity for WA Health.

01:34An opportunity the state government says it's monitoring closely.

01:37Absolutely.

01:42You

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