Healthcare leaders gathered at Tampa Bay Wave to discuss how artificial intelligence can transform patient care and address inefficiencies. At Tampa Bay Wave’s downtown offices, a panel of healthcare and tech leaders convened to explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modernizing healthcare. The event, titled “The Future of Healthcare: Revolutionizing Patient Care through AI and Digital Innovation,” brought together industry veterans including Scott Arnold, Tampa General’s EVP & Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, Florida State Senator Jay Collins, and Dr. Sandeep Chauhan, CEO of Definition Health and prominent orthopedic surgeon in the UK. The conversation centered on how AI can optimize surgical workflows, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the strain on healthcare professionals, while ensuring that technology complements—not replaces—the human touch. One of the pressing topics raised during the discussion was the substantial cost tied to inefficiencies in hospital operating rooms (ORs). Dr. Chauhan drew attention to the staggering financial burden of OR downtime, explaining that a single minute of inactivity can cost a hospital around $3,000. These inefficiencies, he said, compound into billions of dollars in annual losses and create significant stress for both patients and medical staff. “Hospitals are often overwhelmed by a wide variety of technological solutions, which, if not integrated well, can complicate rather than simplify healthcare processes,” said Chauhan. He stressed the importance of streamlining operations and tailoring patient care to avoid costly delays and suboptimal outcomes. Chauhan emphasized that 51% of surgeries are delayed on the day of the procedure due to patients not being adequately prepared. This not only affects hospital efficiency but also patient outcomes and the surgeon’s reputation. By adopting AI solutions, hospitals can engage with patients earlier in the process, ensuring they are optimized for surgery and reducing the likelihood of cancellations or errors. “Hospitals need tools to engage with patients and their support networks well before their surgical journey begins,” Chauhan remarked, advocating for a “consumerized” healthcare model where patients have easy access to their health information, helping them optimize their pre-surgical health. AI’s ability to personalize patient care was a recurring theme throughout the discussion. Dr. Chauhan highlighted how AI can help healthcare providers create individualized surgical plans based on a patient’s specific needs, improving overall outcomes. “Imagine being able to tailor your surgical procedure for Patient A versus Patient B, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach,” Chauhan suggested, pointing to AI’s potential to transform the way surgeries are performed. This personalized approach allows for early intervention, reducing risks and improving recovery times for patients – something that Chauhan’s company, Definition Health, has already implemented in UK hospitals. While AI offers undeniable efficiencies, the panelists emphasized the importance of preserving the human element in healthcare. Senator Jay Collins, drawing on his experience as a Special Forces medic, shared a powerful story about how human intuition and care can make a critical difference—sometimes defying data-driven predictions. “As a human, with my hands on them, I knew they could survive because I knew who they were individually,” Collins said. “You have to balance humanity against data.” This balance, the panelists agreed, is key to ensuring that AI enhances patient care without losing the personal connection that healthcare providers bring to their work. Scott Arnold, Tampa General’s digital innovation leader, noted that the pandemic accelerated the adoption of AI and automation as healthcare systems struggled with staff burnout and shortages. “The pandemic amplified a problem that was already there,” Arnold said, adding that AI is now being used to handle administrative tasks, freeing up healthcare workers to spend more time with patients. “As we deploy technology, we want to ensure that it’s safe; the way that we’re looking at it now is not in terms of replacing people, but in an assistive context, very similar to what autopilot did for the aviation industry,” Arnold explained. This approach to AI in healthcare focuses on reducing the workload on staff while maintaining high-quality care. The panel also touched on the role of public-private partnerships in advancing AI technologies. Senator Collins warned of the risks of rushing into AI-driven solutions without fully understanding their implications. He called for thoughtful collaboration between the private sector and government agencies to ensure that innovation can flourish without compromising safety. “I don’t want the government rushing to a solution because of fear or bad data or simply because we’ve fallen in love with a concept,” Collins said. “We need thought leaders from all industries to come together.” AI’s potential to bridge healthcare disparities, particularly in underserved or rural areas, was another key topic of discussion. Senator Collins spoke about his experiences in both the military and rural America, noting that some areas in the U.S. face healthcare shortages comparable to those in war-torn regions overseas. “There are places in West Virginia that are as austere as the places I served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the jungles of Columbia and South America,” Collins pointed out. AI, he suggested, could help bring critical care to these areas by offering remote diagnostic tools and improving patient access to healthcare information. As healthcare continues to evolve, the panelists agreed that AI will play an increasingly important role in improving efficiency and personalizing care. However, they stressed that the successful implementation of AI requires a thoughtful approach—one that prioritizes collaboration, careful regulation, and, most importantly, the well-being of patients and healthcare professionals. “We have to make sure that as we innovate, we never forget the emotions and humanity behind every decision,” Senator Collins concluded. AI may hold the key to transforming healthcare, but its true potential lies in its ability to support healthcare workers and empower patients—without losing sight of the human element that remains at the heart of medicine. tampabayconnects
