Kansas City,
12
August
2026
|
16:36 PM
America/Chicago

Kansas City Business Journal: Children's Mercy uses AI to predict hospital surges, manage patient flow

Patient Progression Hub

By Frida Humphreville

Children's Mercy has tapped artificial intelligence to be more predictive and less reactive in managing its patient load in the three years since opening its Patient Progression Hub.

The AI-based model can reach 98% accuracy when predicting patient numbers during a two-week period, said Sherry McCool, senior director of patient progression. The hub predicts and coordinates emergencies and patient-related activities from the hospital's operations center.

Jennifer Watts, associate chief medical officer for acute care and inpatient services, likened running a hospital to chess.

“It is putting all the pieces in the right place at the right time, and you've got to be strategic about it to make sure that everybody can move into the right place when they need to move,” Watts said.

 

Read the full article via the Kansas City Business Journal

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