Patient Safety Fellowship Examines AI’s Potential to Improve Patient Safety

CMU Professor David Steier, PhD presents to Patient Safety fellows.

The 20^th annual Patient Safety Fellowship hosted by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF), Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI), and Health Careers Futures.

This summer's cohort includes 25 fellows from eight different academic institutions and 17 academic focus areas from the region. Fellows have formed interdisciplinary teams and will explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, safety science, and lessons from other industries to improve healthcare outcomes. Sessions in the first month have included guest presentations from David Bates, MD, MSc, medical director of Clinical and Quality Analysis at Mass General Brigham; Colonel Steven L. Coffee, MA, EMCQSL, founding member of Patients for Patient Safety US; Kristen E. Miller, DrPH, MSPH, MSL, CPPS, scientific director of the National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare; and David Steier, PhD, distinguished service professor at the Heinz College School of Information Systems and Management at Carnegie Mellon University.

"We have explored the profound intersections of Al and healthcare, including understanding Al as a tool rather than a substitute for human expertise, emphasizing its role in enhancing patient safety rather than replacing it," said Boluwatife Gbadebo, administrative resident at UPMC and Master of Health Administration candidate at the University of Pittsburgh. "I've gained insights into mitigating biases and promoting inclusivity within Al systems, which is crucial for ensuring equitable healthcare outcomes."

Fellow Boluwatife Gbadebo shares during a Fellowship session.

The nine-session fellowship will run from June 4 to July 30 and provides an opportunity for the interdisciplinary teams to visit six care settings, including an emergency room department, skilled nursing and rehabilitation community, behavioral health, physical therapy and rehabilitation, in-patient pharmacy, and critical care transport, in order to inform their idea for an AI solution to address a safety concern that relates to the care setting the team observed. Fellows will also get the opportunity to visit UPMC's WISER Institute to learn and experience one of the most advanced simulation centers in the country and see how they're applying AI solutions to support patient safety.

This year's fellowship culminates in a "Solutions Showcase," in which fellows will present an AI concept their team developed for the care setting. An advanced screening of The Pitch: Patient Safety's Next Generation is also included in this year's Fellowship.

"The Patient Safety Fellowship has been very insightful. I feel privileged to attend sessions featuring some of the leading authorities on artificial intelligence in health care. Learning from them and collaborating with a diverse group of fellows has sparked new ideas for my research career," said John Tukakira, a Master of Public Health student at the University of Pittsburgh. "I'm excited to see what project we develop together as part of the fellowship."