How AI Can Improve Cancer Care Access, Quality: Johnetta Blakely, MD

Artificial intelligence (AI) could improve both access to oncology care and the way quality is measured, though cost, risk aversion, and a crowded vendor market stand in the way, according to Johnetta Blakely, MD, MS, MMHC, of Tennessee Oncology.

In an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®, Blakely discussed whether AI will widen or narrow gaps in access, how it could change quality measurement, and what holds back adoption.

Can AI Improve Access to Oncology Care?

Blakely said AI could expand or restrict access to care and might even do both simultaneously. In places where patients lack internet access, they may not be able to reach AI tools at all.

From a systems standpoint, Blakely said the goal at Tennessee Oncology is to ensure that whatever AI does helps the physician help the patient.

“We always have the patient in mind as sort of the north star,” Blakely said.

Workforce shortages are part of the picture. “Because of workforce shortages and other things, I think AI is going to make things a little more simple, we hope, and that may actually equate to better access for patients,” Blakely said.

How AI Could Change Quality Measurement

Blakely framed the question as one of applying old metrics with new tools and said AI can improve quality. Records still arrive largely as PDFs and faxes, which are not structured data.

AI tools now available can convert that unstructured information into structured data, Blakely said. That would let organizations review quality metrics directly rather than relying on chart extraction. “I actually think that AI can improve our quality,” Blakely said, describing the shift as a benefit overall.

What Barriers Still Limit AI Adoption?

Blakely identified three obstacles. The first is cost. The second is risk, which carries particular weight in medicine. “We are probably the most risk-averse people in the world, and we don’t want to take risks with anything that’s going to have to do with patient care,” Blakely said.

The third is the sheer number of platforms. Many companies offer overlapping products, and Blakely said it is hard to vet one against another. “There’s so many different companies out there. It’s really hard to vet one over the other,” Blakely said.

Blakely expressed hope that the market will consolidate over time. Companies may merge, or many of these functions may be built into electronic health records (EHRs), which would simplify the choices facing practices.