LEXINGTON, Ky. — Saint Joseph Hospital was the first in Kentucky to use AI-assisted colonoscopy technology to screen for colorectal cancer. The new technology allows physicians to detect colorectal polyps of varying shapes and sizes earlier through enhanced visualization during a colonoscopy.
Certain types of colorectal cancer can have a five-year survival rate of up to 91 percent when caught early. In Kentucky, colorectal cancer ranks fourth among all cancer diagnoses, but second in cancer deaths among all adults in 2022, according to the American Cancer Society.
“At CHI Saint Joseph Health, we are always looking for innovative ways to ensure our patients have access to the care they need,” said Anthony Houston, Ed.D., FACHE, CEO, CHI Saint Joseph Health. “With the high rates of cancer, and especially colorectal cancer, we appreciate the opportunity to offer this technology to improve health outcomes in Kentucky.”
Saint Joseph Hospital received three units of the GI Genius (™) technology through the Medtronic Health Equity Assistance Program for colorectal screening, which launched in February. The program donates the technology to facilities that provide for medically underserved communities with low screening rates or where access to the technology is not available.
“Kentucky ranks among the top five states with new colorectal cancer diagnoses,” said Bilal Aslam, MD, CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group – Gastroenterology, who first used the new screening technology in November. “This new tool will help us to detect polyps earlier and, hopefully, help us to prevent future colon cancer cases.”
Studies of the new computer-aided polyp detection system showed a 50% reduction in missed colorectal polyps versus standard colonoscopy.
To learn more about gastroenterology and cancer care at Saint Joseph, visit www.chisaintjosephhealth.org.
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