November 15, 2011 — Allocade Inc. announced that PinnacleHealth’s Harrisburg campus has deployed the On-Cue Artificial Intelligence Command and Control System throughout its department of imaging. PinnacleHealth first installed On-Cue in computed tomography (CT) to maximize resource capacity, enhance patient experience and improve overall operational efficiency. As a result, the healthcare system decided to expand the technology throughout its department of imaging to manage daily operating schedules in all modalities.
“We immediately realized the benefit of On-Cue in our CT department as it automatically load balanced patients between our CT systems and instantly communicated the changes seamlessly throughout the different CT control rooms,” said Bill Wilkison, vice president, ambulatory care & ancillary services. “As a result of improved production and elimination of scheduling chaos in CT, we determined it was critical to expand On-Cue throughout imaging in order to improve predictability and efficiency in our department, which would also contribute to an improved patient experience. As a result, this innovative technology is helping to improve healthcare delivery in the most efficient and cost-effective way.”
The On-Cue system is based on real-time planning systems originally used by NASA for the Hubble Space Telescope. Allocade successfully harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to solve patient flow problems that hospitals face every day. The system monitors the procedural department’s complex environment for any changes that impact daily operation; from there, it makes decisions that optimize the use of resources, maintain patient flow and achieve operational goals within seconds.
Since the integration throughout the department of imaging, PinnacleHealth is benefiting from automatic management of daily workflow as changes occur. On-Cue utilizes artificial intelligence to continuously optimize operational schedules for the available resources, taking into account real-time variability of procedures. It also changes inpatient and emergency room demands. The system delivers real-time visibility of all schedule changes to all interested personnel, improving communication and coordination.
According to Karen Botts, administrative director for PinnacleHealth Imaging, “The roll-out of On-Cue in the diagnostic modality has been up and running successfully for a month at the Harrisburg Hospital campus. With the complicated workflow of having separate diagnostic rooms five floors apart, On-Cue has been extremely effective in managing patient care and experience as well as streamlining staff efficiency and productivity. The added capabilities of the system, including lab values and other pertinent clinical information, have been very helpful in providing specific and appropriate care to each of our patients.
“Our next phase of implementation will include a roll-out to the emergency department and nursing units, enabling effective communication for all modalities between caregivers in all locations.”
PinnacleHealth first installed the system in 2009 to accommodate a major renovation, which involved the expansion of its emergency department to 54 beds. The renovation also added multiple CT scanners including the Aquilion One 320 detector row CT system.
Following the CT installation, the hospital expanded On-Cue to interventional radiology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound. Most recently, PinnacleHealth completed the implementation of On-Cue in diagnostic X-ray; this includes two X-ray systems and two fluoroscopy systems on the fifth floor, as well as portable X-ray systems throughout the hospital.
For more information: www.allocade.com
