Title 1
CASE 1: Artificial Intelligence in Primary Care: Implementing New Technology into Existing Systems
Case Synopsis
The Digital Health Bureau has received funding from the province to develop projects focused on improving telemedicine. The Department of Health Analytics has been instructed by the Digital Health Bureau to use the funding to improve the use of electronic medical records in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Noor Grewal, a public health liaison officer, has been tasked with determining the best option for electronic medical record integration to address key public health needs in primary care. Currently, the Department of Health Analytics is focused on advocating for the use of artificial intelligence in health care and wants to use this funding opportunity to integrate an artificial intelligence-enabled tool into the province’s certified electronic medical record systems. Noor has narrowed down the top concerns in primary care and searched for artificial intelligence tools that have the potential to solve the identified problems. She has a meeting to provide her recommendations to Damon Miller, the Director of Strategy and Planning, in one week. This case highlights the importance of setting decision making criteria and critically evaluating all evidence before making a decision that has the potential to impact the health of the entire population of the province.
Case Objectives
1. Recognize the potential to promote public health in primary care settings.
2. Propose a list of questions and criteria that would be important in facilitating the decision-making process.
3. Practice making decisions under time constraints and with incomplete information. 4. Apply a systems-thinking approach to discuss the challenges associated with implementing new technologies.
Case Study Questions
1. What are the advantages of using artificial intelligence in primary care?
2. What criteria would be important to consider from a health equity lens before integrating artificial intelligence tools into electronic medical records?
3. In what cases would personal health information be used for purposes outside of a patient’s immediate care and treatment?
4. What are Noor’s responsibilities as a public health practitioner in making the decision after meeting with company representatives?
Keywords
Artificial intelligence, decision-making criteria, electronic medical records, information technology, preventive care
ISBN
978-0-7714-3174-6
Recommended Citation
Bahniwal R., Terry A., Lizotte D. J. (2022). Artificial Intelligence in Primary Care: Implementing New Technology into Existing Systems in: Darnell, R. & Sibbald, S. L. [eds] Western Public Health Casebook 2021. London, ON: Public Health Casebook Publishing.
