Geisinger has started using an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled breast cancer screening program aimed at identifying patients at high risk and referring them for care.
The AI model reviews records of female patients with Geisinger primary care providers who are overdue for a mammogram each month. From this group, the model selects 50 patients assessed as being at the highest risk for breast cancer based on information in their electronic health record, such as family history or other medical conditions. The Care Gaps team then contacts these patients to inform them about their risk and helps them schedule a mammogram. They also coordinate with primary care providers to refer these individuals to Geisinger’s high-risk breast clinic for ongoing monitoring. Early detection is linked to a significantly improved five-year survival rate.
“This high-risk breast cancer model reflects Geisinger’s strengths in interdisciplinary care, quality and population health, and our investments in new technologies—in this case artificial intelligence—to identify women who are at high risk of breast cancer so they can be screened and treated,” said Keith Boell, D.O., Geisinger’s chief quality officer. “This work will literally save lives and is an example of how we at Geisinger continue to work to be the best.”
“Geisinger has developed a cutting-edge AI model for predicting breast cancer risk using readily available electronic health record data so that it is broadly applicable to a larger population. This program increases efficiency of outreach and improves screening rates for high-risk patients, while effectively integrating with current workflows,” said Biplab Bhattacharya, Ph.D., program director for data science at Geisinger, who led the technical development of the model. “This program is a critical step toward improving early detection and outcomes.”
Geisinger serves more than one million people across central and northeastern Pennsylvania through its network of hospitals, clinics, insurance plans, educational programs, and research initiatives. In 2024, it became part of Risant Health as part of efforts to advance value-based care nationwide.
For more information about comprehensive breast cancer care at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/breastcare.
