“This is a clinical and technological partnership between Jupiter Medical Center and IBM,” says John D. Couris, President and CEO of Jupiter Medical Center. “We are not only an early adopter of the Watson for Oncology platform, as a clinical partner we’re providing data and continuous feedback to IBM to help them refine the product and create an even better tool for cancer care.”

 

One of the reasons IBM came to Jupiter was its large oncology service line and multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of organ-based cancer.

 

“The volume of work we do in oncology was extremely attractive to IBM,” says Couris. “Also, and probably more importantly, is the way we organize care around the patient.”

 

According to the American Cancer Society, in the state of Florida alone, there will be an estimated 125,000 new cancer cases this year. As healthcare providers and systems seek to enable data-driven, evidence-based cancer care, an explosion of medical information has created both challenges and opportunities to improve quality care. Currently, approximately 50,000 oncology research papers are published annually, and by 2020 medical information is projected to double every 73 days, outpacing the ability of humans to keep up with the proliferation of medical knowledge.

 

Watson for Oncology provides information to oncologists to help them deliver evidence-based treatment options by analyzing massive volumes of medical literature to identify individualized treatment options and scaling access to oncology expertise. Watson for Oncology draws from more than 300 medical journals, more than 200 textbooks, and nearly 15 million pages of text to provide insights about different treatment options and also provides oncologists with information regarding drug options and administration instructions. Watson also ranks the evidence-based treatment options, linking to peer reviewed studies and clinical guidelines. Its machine-learning capability means it continuously learns, gaining in value and knowledge over time.

 

“Artificial intelligence, such as Watson for Oncology, is going to become a bigger part of healthcare because, implemented correctly, it can improve service, clinical outcomes, and quality while lowering cost through the reduction of variability in clinical processes,” says Couris. “We’re looking at Watson as another data source for our physicians to use in the fight against cancer. It’s yet another tool to diagnose, treat and, ultimately, cure cancer, so we think this is the beginning of a very long and successful journey.”

 

IBM and MSK have been accelerating Watson for Oncology’s training; Watson for Oncology is now available to assist clinicians in developing treatment plans for breast, lung, colorectal, cervical, ovarian and gastric cancers. IBM and MSK plan to train Watson on at least 9 additional cancer types this year, covering nearly 80 percent of the worldwide incidence of cancer.

 

“We’re not looking at this as a discreet piece of technology. Rather, it’s a piece of technology that is going to help our physicians make better, more well-informed decisions around certain types of organ-based cancers,” notes Couris. “And that’s because Watson, every single day, every single moment, is reading the world’s literature on oncology in every country, in every language, in every journal, in every book and it’s assimilating that data. So to be able to access a vast library of research and have it at your fingertips is power and it’s power for the patient.”

 

For Couris, the investment and implementation of Watson for Oncology demonstrates how far Jupiter Medical Center has come.

 

“About 30 years ago, when people were asked who do you call when you have a major medical issue or you have a disease or illness, the joke around South Florida is that you call Delta Airlines and get a flight and go somewhere else,” he says. “Technology, along with a lot of other advances, including world-class physicians, has made our world a smaller world. It has made it easier for people to stay home and stay local. You don’t need to go somewhere to get access to the latest technology, the latest innovations, and the latest programs because technology has enabled organizations like ours to bring that excellence home and keep it right here for the local community.”