Georgetown Community Hospital advances its colon cancer screenings by introducing artificial intelligence-powered colonoscopies
March 4, 2024
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (March, 4 2024) – Georgetown Community Hospital (GCH) now offers patients enhanced colonoscopies with the GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module. The Medtronic GI Genius™ module is the first FDA-cleared1 artificial intelligence-assisted colonoscopy. It employs AI to help physicians detect potentially precancerous polyps,2 which can lead to colorectal cancer.3 Patients can now schedule a colonoscopy with GI Genius™ module at Georgetown Community Hospital. GCH is only the third hospital in the area to use this technology.
“As we begin to bring awareness this March to National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, it is very exciting to welcome this new technology to our patients,” says Justin Case, MD, Gastroenterologist at Georgetown Community Hospital. “I am able to identify very discreet polyps that are very difficult to see with a human eye. This AI technology assists surgeons; patients can feel confident that everything is confirmed by me before removal.”
Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer diagnosed in the U.S., with more than 150,000 new cases every year.4 Early detection is essential to preventing colorectal cancer, but polyps can be difficult to see and physicians vary in their ability to detect and remove polyps. The GI Genius™ module uses advanced visualization and AI software to highlight polyps in real-time. In a 2019 study, GI Genius had a faster reaction time than the average reaction time of endoscopists by more than 1 second.5
Multiple clinical studies have shown the GI Genius™ module offers a variety of benefits to patients and physicians. In a study published in 2022 in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Society, two groups of patients underwent two same-day back-to-back colonoscopies.6 One group underwent a colonoscopy with GI Genius™ module followed by a standard colonoscopy without GI Genius™ module.6 The other group underwent a standard colonoscopy without GI Genius™ module followed by a colonoscopy with GI Genius™ module6. The technology was shown to significantly decrease the miss rate of adenomas and polyps by 45.8%.6
“Georgetown Community Hospital is committed to providing advanced health care technology to Scott County and the surrounding area,” says Cliff Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Georgetown Community Hospital and Market President of Lifepoint’s central Kentucky market. “This AI technology truly enhances early detection of colon cancer, a disease that is very prevalent in the state of Kentucky. These artificial intelligence colonoscopies have the potential to truly save lives.”
To learn more about colonoscopies or to find a provider at Georgetown Community Hospital, please contact at 888.847.3627 (DOCS).