Will Society Guidance and AI Combine to Streamline Clinical Decision Making?
Question: With new studies, treatment options, and diagnostic technologies emerging regularly, how can ophthalmology practices ensure physicians have timely access to the most current evidence-based guidance at the point of care without having to manually search multiple resources? Michigan Subscriber Answer: Between new research findings, evolving treatment approaches, updated clinical guidelines, and emerging technologies, it can be difficult for ophthalmologists and other clinicians to efficiently locate the most relevant evidence during a patient encounter. By combining clinical guidance with the search capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare providers could locate answers to their medical decision making queries quickly and efficiently. In fact, a recently announced partnership will start advancing this technology-based resource. On June 9, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and OpenEvidence announced their partnership to integrate the Academy’s Preferred Practice Patterns and Ophthalmic Technology Assessments into the OpenEvidence AI platform. The American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern guidelines are expert-designed parameters to guide physicians on practice methods, not necessarily how to care for individual patients. Meanwhile, Ophthalmic Technology Assessments “evaluate new and existing procedures, drugs and diagnostic and screening tests for safety and clinical effectiveness,” according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. OpenEvidence is an AI platform designed for U.S. clinicians to assist in decision making. By incorporating the Preferred Practice Patterns and Ophthalmic Technology Assessments, OpenEvidence will be able to provide the American Academy of Ophthalmology with high-level information “identifying topics of particular interest to ophthalmologists, as well as potential gaps in existing guidance,” according to an OpenEvidence press release announcing the partnership. By combining the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s clinical guidance with the physician’s workflow, “OpenEvidence and the Academy are helping ensure that ophthalmologists have trusted, specialty-specific evidence at the point of care, raising the standard for how clinical knowledge reaches the bedside,” according to the OpenEvidence press release. “The age of AI offers opportunities for the medical profession to focus on real needs in real time, and the Academy intends to lead the way — with OpenEvidence as our partner,” said Stephen D. McLeod, MD, CEO of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, in the release. Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC
