Qventus launches AI operational assistant to enhance perioperative procedures

Qventus unveiled a new AI-based operational assistant designed to optimize operating room processes and reduce the administrative burden on healthcare workers. This system automates many tasks that were previously carried out manually, such as coordinating operating room schedules for surgeons and gathering patient information ahead of surgery. By doing so, the assistant aims to streamline workflows and minimize the need for staff intervention in routine tasks.

In healthcare settings, obtaining patient records from various institutions has traditionally required nurses to make phone calls and follow up manually. However, this AI assistant can now handle those responsibilities, automating communication with external facilities to retrieve the necessary patient data. 

Moreover, the assistant is equipped to manage other tasks like sending and receiving faxes, drafting and delivering email updates, and directly communicating with patients to schedule follow-up calls from clinical staff. It can also place calls to patients to gather information on their current medications, offering instructions when necessary, such as advising patients to discontinue certain medications before surgery temporarily.

Mudit Garg, CEO of Qventus, explained that the AI operational assistant is designed to take over logistical responsibilities that would traditionally fall on case managers, care coordinators, and other support staff. While essential to the functioning of healthcare systems, these roles often involve a large amount of administrative work that can be delegated to AI. Garg emphasized that up to 75% of these roles’ duties include managing logistics, something the AI assistant can help automate.

The development of the AI assistant involved significant input from healthcare professionals, especially nurses, who provided feedback that influenced its capabilities. Garg noted that the ability to send and receive faxes, for instance, was added in response to this feedback. The company prioritized integrating features that met the specific needs of healthcare staff, tailoring the tool to suit real-world demands.

Dr. Saadia Sherwani, a cardiac anesthesiologist and senior vice president at Northwestern Medicine, described the assistant’s potential to streamline the preoperative process, which is often burdened by administrative tasks. Sherwani reiterated Garg’s concerns by pointing out that the preoperative clinic workflow involves a considerable amount of paperwork and coordination, such as handling faxes and sending follow-up information, much of which falls on nurses and physicians.

Senior surgeons usually have fixed time blocks for surgeries, while newer surgeons often need to work around these established schedules, a process traditionally managed manually by schedulers. The AI assistant’s scheduling feature is designed to help address this issue by identifying available time slots and prompting surgeons to release their scheduled time if they are unavailable. This system is intended to make better use of operating room space and resources, helping to ensure that time is used effectively.