Pragmatic AI and Strategic Planning for Community Oncology Practices

Nini Wu, MD, MBA, chief medical and development officer of Navista, a Cardinal Health company, shifts to focus on the future of technology in community oncology, particularly highlighting the pervasive topic of artificial intelligence (AI). Wu notes that while AI is widely discussed and integrated by many technology companies, its application in community oncology needs to be pragmatic.

“Everybody's talking about AI. AI is every time we turn on a screen, [and] just about every technology company talks about how they are incorporating AI into their capabilities. I think that AI is absolutely going to change our capabilities over the next few years, but that promise has been in place for a long time, and what we need to do in community oncology is to recognize that some of the most important aspects that AI can bring to us have to be really addressed pragmatically,” Wu explains.

She emphasizes that community oncology practices primarily focus on delivering care and supporting patients through existing therapies, rather than discovering new ones. Therefore, the value of AI lies in its thoughtful utilization to enhance patient experience and streamline workflows. This requires practices to consider their own operations, workflows, and the most critical needs of their patients and staff.

“What I recommend to every practice, when I am speaking with them about technology and AI, is to really think about addressing it from the viewpoint of a strategic plan,” Wu says.

She explains that for practices to approach technology and AI adoption through a strategic plan, this must involve understanding their services, identifying key priorities, and then selecting technologies that are both beneficial and affordable to integrate and implement effectively. Ultimately, the goal is to choose tools that will genuinely be utilized, as unused technology offers no value. The process should begin with a deep understanding of the practice's needs and its approach to patient care, guiding the selection of appropriate technological solutions.

“Sometimes in our day-to-day life, we lose track of thinking about it that way. But it is critical to start with the planning, and that planning starts with understanding yourself and how you want to take care of your patients,” she concludes.