At Ascension, our use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications reflects our deep commitment to our mission. Technology can help strengthen the connection between caregivers and patients, improve the quality and safety of care, and make healthcare more personal and efficient. Each new initiative is rooted in our values and designed to support the healing work that defines who we are.
Ascension’s AI strategy is designed to advance four goals: expand access and continuity of care, improve clinical quality and safety, help employees work more efficiently, and improve operational efficiency while creating a more personalized consumer experience.
Given the potential advances in AI, we have an opportunity By thinking about health care from a place of abundance, rather than one that has historically been shaped by scarcity, we can provide more care, especially to the poorest people.
Across Ascension, AI is starting to improve the employee experience through workspace tools like Gemini in Google Workspace. This tool organizes data, generates summaries, and supports productivity so employees can focus on collaboration and service. Across operations, automation and predictive analytics help leaders make timely and informed decisions about staffing and resources. This initiative reduces administrative burden, gives caregivers more time to engage with patients, and gives patients the confidence to receive compassionate, high-quality care.
To ease the burden on physicians, ambient documentation tools securely capture and transcribe conversations during visits and automatically create clinical notes, cutting time to minutes. For nurses, AI-enabled flowsheets and digital handoff summaries have the potential to give back time to patient care by simplifying documentation and improving coordination between shifts.
AI-enabled tools are being studied to support early detection of disease, identify when patients need additional support, and inform or supplement care plans tailored to patients’ individual needs. These advances are expected to improve access to timely, high-quality, and safe care for all patients. Early results show improved efficiency and more informed decision-making across the care continuum, while allowing clinicians to focus on what matters most: their patients.
For consumers, AI has the potential to make healthcare easier to navigate, more personalized, and more responsive over time. The greatest impact is likely to come from enabling people to more easily find the right care, receive more relevant information and support, and experience a health system better equipped to anticipate needs, reduce friction, and enhance engagement throughout the care journey.
Our progress is built on a strong and secure foundation of people, data, processes and technology. Years of deliberate investment in modern infrastructure, analytics, and talent development have led Ascension to adopt AI thoughtfully and purposefully. Our team brings together clinicians, designers, technologists, data scientists, and business leaders who work together to ensure solutions that support safety, compassion, and mission integrity.
The strength of our infrastructure lies in secure, scalable, technology-based systems and interoperable tools that enable us to innovate responsibly and at scale. High-quality data from clinical, operational, and financial sources drives meaningful insights that improve outcomes across agencies. Our processes emphasize collaboration, transparency, and ethical governance to ensure that AI is applied in a way that respects dignity and human connection. Together, these elements create an environment that allows innovation to flourish and strengthens our ability to provide personalized, high-quality care.
To keep all advances aligned with our mission and values, Ascension has established a multidisciplinary AI Governance Committee comprised of leaders from across the Department. This group will oversee how AI is developed and deployed, based on principles rooted in Catholic social teaching. Our governance structure emphasizes transparency, fairness, privacy, and respect for the dignity of all people. New applications are carefully reviewed to ensure they are ethical, safe, and consistent with our commitment to serving those most in need.
Ascension AI is already changing the way we work and serve, and the possibilities continue to expand. Looking ahead, the governance Ascension has put in place will ensure that we approach AI with humility and discipline, always guided by our values and commitment to the people we serve. We will continue to strengthen our data capabilities and expand responsible innovation across the Department. In doing so, we remain steadfast in our vision of bringing health, healing, and hope to all.
AI is an advanced capability that enhances our daily mission by expanding the reach of caregivers, supporting compassionate care, and enabling us to better serve future generations.
