Adventist HealthCare hospitals in Maryland are improving emergency department (ED) triage with KATE AI, an artificial intelligence tool designed to support care teams and enhance patient safety. The software is used across three hospitals: Shady Grove Medical Center, White Oak Medical Center, and Fort Washington Medical Center.
KATE AI helps emergency teams by verifying care plans, particularly for high-risk or complex patients. By analyzing patient symptoms against de-identified historical medical records, it provides immediate recommendations about the appropriate level of care. This tool assists with recognizing critical conditions such as sepsis, heart attack, heart failure, and pre-eclampsia, ensuring that emergency nurses can make more accurate decisions while retaining ultimate control over patient care.
The implementation of KATE AI has several benefits. It increases the accuracy of ED triage, helping patients receive the right care at the right time, which reduces emergency wait times and shortens hospital stays. Moreover, it aids in identifying and removing systemic biases in triage processes, such as those based on race, age, and gender, fostering greater health equity.
Initially, the adoption of AI in emergency care raised concerns among some nurses, fearing it would slow down their work. However, after a year of use at Shady Grove Medical Center, the tool has proven beneficial, enhancing clinical efficiency without compromising the speed of care.
Steven Reilly, CEO of Mednition, the developer of KATE AI, expressed excitement over the system-wide adoption of the tool, recognizing Adventist HealthCare’s commitment to using innovative technology to improve clinical, operational, and financial outcomes.
Adventist HealthCare, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is one of the region’s longest-serving health systems and a major employer in the state. Their mission extends through physical, mental, and spiritual healing, focusing on providing high-quality care across various facilities, including Rehabilitation, Home Care Services, and Adventist Medical Group.
