Houston leaders share how healthcare embraces cutting-edge technologies
Writer: Andrea Teran
September 2024 — Innovation is at the core of Houston’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, with major players across the sector adopting advanced technologies and transformative care models.
This forward-thinking approach was front and center at the Invest: Houston 2024 Launch Event during the panel titled “Revolutionizing Healthcare: How Houston is adopting cutting-edge technologies and transformative models of care for improved efficiencies and better outcomes.” The panel was moderated by Abby Lindenberg, president and CEO of Capital Analytics.
Kicking off the discussion, William McKeon, president & CEO of Texas Medical Center highlighted the long-standing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical research, particularly in streamlining clinical trials. “At MD Anderson, for example, we reduced a two-year patient search process to just three minutes using AI,” McKeon explained. “It transformed how we approach clinical research, allowing us to sift through vast datasets and find previously unidentified patient candidates.”
Jamie Bailey, executive vice president and CFO at UTMB Health System emphasized the financial challenges of integrating these technologies, but noted their tangible benefits. “We’ve seen AI improve clinical documentation through ambient technologies, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care while AI handles the administrative side,” Bailey said. He also pointed to UTMB’s AI Council, which evaluates various AI opportunities across the organization.
Kengo Takishima, president and CEO of Baylor Genetics, underscored the critical role of AI in genetic testing, especially in diagnosing rare diseases. “AI accelerates the speed of diagnostics by processing genetic data and identifying impactful variants,” he said. Baylor Genetics handles more than 300,000 samples annually, using AI to improve accuracy and efficiency in genetic analysis.
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From a behavioral health perspective, Rodgers Wilson, national medical executive for behavioral health at Evernorth for Cigna Healthcare, discussed how AI helps Cigna Healthcare identify and manage risks related to social determinants of health, like food insecurity and transportation access. “AI models allow us to predict patient outcomes and intervene before conditions like opioid overdose or eating disorders progress to critical stages,” Wilson explained. However, he also stressed the need for ethical oversight. “We must ensure that AI systems avoid bias and are built on reliable data, especially when it comes to addressing disparities in healthcare.”
Telemedicine, which surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, was another focal point of the conversation. McKeon noted the rapid shift in acceptance and utilization of telehealth services, with telemedicine now playing a critical role in providing timely access to care. “Telemedicine isn’t going away,” McKeon remarked. “It’s now critical for providing timely access to care, allowing patients to connect with specialists much faster.”
Bailey added that UTMB Health has been leveraging telemedicine in various settings, including partnerships with NASA and the cruise industry. “We were using telemedicine before the pandemic, but COVID really accelerated its adoption,” she said. “The challenge now is ensuring that patients, especially those less familiar with technology, can fully benefit from it.”
Takishima highlighted how telemedicine is making genetic counseling more accessible. “Genetic counseling is crucial for patients to understand their test results, and telemedicine allows us to reach underserved populations who might not otherwise have access to these services,” he noted.
The discussion closed on a high note, with the panelists emphasizing the importance of collaboration across healthcare systems, technology companies, and insurers to address rising healthcare costs. As McKeon noted, “Houston’s diverse population and the concentration of world-class institutions make it an ideal environment for pioneering research and technological innovation.”
The panel demonstrated that Houston is not only a leader in healthcare innovation but also a model for integrating technology, collaboration, and ethical considerations to improve health outcomes on a large scale.
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