Tennessee hospitals turn to AI to tackle staffing woes and improve patient care efficiency

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Hospitals across Tennessee are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence, or AI, to improve patient care, streamline administrative processes, and support clinical staff amid ongoing workforce challenges.

AI in Stroke Care

TriStar Skyline Medical Center, the state’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center, recently introduced an FDA-cleared AI platform designed to enhance stroke diagnosis and intervention. The deep-learning imaging system rapidly analyzes brain scans, helping clinicians identify the severity and location of stroke-related abnormalities.

“At TriStar Skyline, innovation isn’t just about what’s next — it’s about what’s best for our patients,” said Dr. Dennis Cole, neurologist and medical director of the Neurosciences Program. “This AI solution empowers our team to interpret imaging faster, which can lead to improved outcomes when it matters most.”

Stroke is among the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the U.S., with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.

TriStar Skyline’s platform aims to streamline the entire stroke pathway, from emergency department admission to advanced intervention.

AI in Hospital Workflow

In West Tennessee, West Tennessee Healthcare is piloting Dragonfly Navigate, an AI-driven tool designed by Xsolis, an AI company based in Franklin, Tennessee.

The system helps case managers make data-informed decisions on patient discharge and post-hospital care, including transfers to skilled nursing facilities or home health services.

AI and Workforce Challenges

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is also advancing health AI through the newly launched ADVANCE Center (AI Discovery and Vigilance to Accelerate Innovation and Clinical Excellence).

FOX 17 News learned more about the center last year that aims to integrate AI into patient care, research, and training, supporting both clinical decision-making and workforce efficiency.

The hospital has formed an AI committee to address nursing shortages, using technology to help nurses monitor patients more effectively and reduce preventable injuries. Robin Steaban, chief officer of Vanderbilt’s adult hospital, said AI could allow nurses to focus more on patient care by performing some basic monitoring tasks.

“Adoption will be a little hard, but once people get it, they’ll not work some place that doesn’t have it,” Steaban said, noting that AI is still in the early stages of implementation but is expected to support long-term staffing solutions.

By supporting faster, data-driven decisions and helping manage administrative burdens, AI technologies may help improve patient outcomes while addressing workforce challenges, particularly in specialized care and nursing.