How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Modern Health Care

Advancements in artificial intelligence are rapidly transforming the way doctors, researchers, and medical institutions approach patient care, offering new tools that enhance efficiency, improve accuracy, and expand access to critical services. At Carle Illinois College of Medicine, clinicians note that AI is already easing the administrative burden on physicians by delivering real-time, organized information that would otherwise require extensive time to gather. This shift allows doctors to spend more time with patients and less time navigating paperwork.

One of the most significant areas of progress is medical imaging. AI-assisted systems can help identify abnormalities in X-rays, CT scans, and other diagnostic images with increased precision, and can even generate three-dimensional models to support clinical decision-making. These tools are particularly impactful in rural or underserved regions, where specialized imaging expertise may not always be readily available. By offering rapid, expert-level review, AI is helping to bridge gaps in access and improve outcomes.

Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is using AI to transform chance discoveries of early lung cancer into second chances for patients. Thanks to Eon Health’s AI-driven platform that scrutinizes radiologists’ notes to flag abnormalities unrelated to a lung cancer scan’s original purpose – “incidental” findings – patients are diagnosed with lung cancer before they even experience symptoms. Early detection is key to overcoming any disease but is especially crucial in lung cancer, which is typically advanced when discovered. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year overall survival rate for lung cancer is 27%, but when diagnosed early, that survival rate jumps to 67%.

“What makes this technology so powerful is simple: Patients are being diagnosed earlier, faster and at a stage when treatment outcomes are dramatically better,” said Branden Richardson, HSHS System Director of Radiology. “These aren’t just incidental findings – they’re life-changing discoveries. The combination of HSHS’ high-quality, compassionate care and this technology is a game-changer for patients.”

Since implementing Eon Health’s AI-driven platform in March 2022 in its Illinois and Wisconsin hospitals, 1 in every 1,000 patients with incidental findings has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Several cases illustrate the impact: After a CT scan checking for blood clots at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, notes identifying scattered nodules prompted recommended follow-up scans that confirmed cancer and allowed treatment to begin. At HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, notes regarding bronchitis and two nodules led to additional imaging that revealed cancer. At HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville, information from the radiologist combined with the Eon system’s screening led to detection of a growing 8-millimeter nodule that was later confirmed to be cancerous. Early detection findings like these can lead to more effective and less invasive treatment plans.

AI is also accelerating medical research and innovation in broader ways. By integrating information from electronic health records, genomic testing, diagnostic images, and other data sources, AI can help simulate how individual patients might respond to different treatments. This capability opens the door to more personalized therapies and can streamline the development of new drugs and medical technologies by revealing promising avenues more quickly than traditional methods.

Even with its growing role, experts emphasize that AI must remain a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human judgment. Maintaining patient trust, protecting privacy, and ensuring that algorithms rely on accurate, representative data are essential to prevent errors and bias. Responsible implementation and strong ethical guidelines will be crucial as the technology becomes more deeply embedded in clinical practice.

To prepare for this future, institutions like Carle Illinois are training the next generation of physicians to serve not just as caregivers, but as innovators. By blending engineering, medicine, and data science, they aim to equip future doctors to lead in an era where technological fluency is increasingly intertwined with patient care.