The Royal Devon NHS Trust is first in the country to roll out a new AI-powered clinical tool, speeding up decisions and supporting better patient outcomesThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
RD&E medical director Adrian Harris
Doctors across Devon are now turning to artificial intelligence to aid medical decisions, as a regional NHS trust becomes the first in the country to adopt a new digital solution.
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has rolled out UpToDate Enterprise Edition, a clinical decision support system from Wolters Kluwer Health. The software uses AI-enhanced search to deliver fast, evidence-based answers to natural language questions posed by doctors.
The trust, which serves a population across North, Mid and East Devon and Exeter, operates two acute hospitals and 17 community hospitals with more than 1,100 beds. According to Professor Adrian Harris, Chief Medical Officer at the trust, the technology supports faster diagnoses, better treatment outcomes, and strengthens clinical education.
“Deploying UpToDate Enterprise Edition is an important initiative in supporting our digital innovation strategy,” Prof. Harris said. “By leveraging the data, analytics and AI capabilities now available within UpToDate, we can further support medical education and optimise clinical decision-making, helping us to deliver the best possible care for all patients.”
The system’s AI capabilities allow clinicians to ask questions in plain English and receive precise, verbatim answers, potentially saving time during high-pressure clinical assessments. It also provides a data dashboard to help the trust evaluate efficiency and identify learning opportunities.
Christian Cella, Vice President at Wolters Kluwer Health, described the rollout as a collaboration with a “forward-thinking” healthcare provider focused on improving care delivery.
Over 100 independent studies have linked the use of UpToDate to improved hospital metrics, including reduced lengths of stay, fewer diagnostic errors and less unnecessary testing.
More details about the tool are available by clicking here and information about the trust is here.