Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, and health care is no exception. Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is harnessing the power of AI to revolutionize health care delivery, improve patient outcomes and enhance operational efficiency as part of a learning health system framework.

The VCH-VCHRI AI Hub is designed to accelerate and harmonize all AI activities throughout VCH. By collaborating on initiatives across clinical, operational, research and commercial domains, the AI Hub can provides resources and expertise to help teams achieve their goals while staying aligned with the latest technological advancements.

Mission

The AI Hub is dedicated to advancing health care through five key objectives:

  • Enhance patient care: AI solutions can improve diagnostic accuracy, refine treatment plans and elevate patient experiences and outcomes. By integrating intelligent technologies, the AI Hub aims to make health care more precise and personalized.
  • Improve operational efficiency: AI-driven optimization of resources and processes can streamlines hospital operations. This means more effective scheduling, better resource allocation and smoother workflows — benefiting both patients and staff.
  • Standardization and harmonization: The AI Hub will establish standardized protocols for AI development and deployment across VCH. Creating consistent guidelines and methodologies, will help ensure the AI applications implemented are reliable, effective and align with VCH organizational goals.
  • Compliance and ethics: Upholding the highest ethical standards, the AI Hub will ensure all AI activities comply with legal, ethical and regulatory requirements. Patient trust and privacy are prioritized by developing AI solutions that are fair, unbiased and secure.
  • Innovation and research: A culture of innovation is fostered by encouraging and enabling research, development and adoption of AI applications relevant to VCH strategic objectives. By supporting creative ideas and novel technologies, the AI Hub aims to drive advancements that improve health care delivery.

Learn about the guiding principles that shape every initiative undertaken at the AI Hub.

Resources and Expertise

The AI Hub is committed to empowering VCHRI teams by offering access to cutting-edge compute infrastructure, compliant access to data sets and technical expertise. Successful AI initiatives need access to robust resources, quality data and skilled professionals, the AI Hub is building the capabilities and  resources our community needs to excel:

  • Advanced computing infrastructure: State-of-the-art computing resources necessary for complex AI and machine learning tasks. This includes high-performance servers, cloud computing capabilities, specialized hardware to handle large datasets and optimized for AI research and development.
  • Access to data sets: High-quality data fuels effective AI solutions. Secure and compliant access to VCH's extensive datasets will enable teams to harness valuable insights and develop data-driven innovations. Data governance policies will ensure that all data usage adheres to legal, ethical and privacy standards.
  • Access to technical expertise: Connections with a network of AI specialists, data scientists and engineers. Whether you need assistance with algorithm development, data analysis or integrating AI solutions into existing systems, the AI Hub will have the expertise you need.

By offering these resources, teams are enabled to focus on innovation and application, reducing barriers to entry for AI projects and accelerating the development and deployment of impactful solutions.

AI Training and Education

VCHRI is committed to preparing the health and research workforce to capitalize on novel AI technologies. The AI Hub is creating comprehensive training and education programs in partnership with the UBC Data Science and Health Cluster, to enhance the skills and knowledge of faculty, staff and trainees, which will:

  • Enhance competencies: Equip our team with the latest skills in AI and data analytics.
  • Nurture innovation: Encourage creative thinking and problem-solving through continuous learning.
  • Accelerate adoption: Facilitate the integration of AI solutions into daily workflows by ensuring staff are confident and proficient in using new technologies.

A Learning Health System Framework

Embedding AI within a learning health system enables continuous learning and improvement. Utilizing data-driven insights, the AI Hub will improve health care outcomes and propel innovation across the organization.
 

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