Artificial intelligence event in Montreal showcases new health-care innovations

What’s being called Canada’s largest artificial intelligence event in Montreal kicked off on Wednesday.

What’s being called Canada’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) event in Montreal kicked off on Wednesday.

At the event, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) unveiled a new AI-powered mobile workstation designed to support nurses with both administrative and clinical tasks.

“It’s a project for nurses by nurses,” said Alain Biron, director of nursing at the MUHC.

The tool, which is called Empowering Nurses with AI for Care Transformation (ENACT), can assist with writing handover notes, organizing schedules, and documenting patient vital signs.

Biron says the technology could save nurses up to an hour each day.

“We believe with AI we can automate a bit of that work so they can spend more time with the patient,” said Biron.

Addressing concerns about AI in patient care, Biron emphasized that nurses will be able to retain full control.

“The nurses will always be able to override the decision, so the clinical judgment of the nurse will always prevail,” said Biron.

ENACT will be deployed in several phases starting this month. Modules will be tested beginning in November at the Montreal General Hospital, with full implementation scheduled for December 2026.

The event also hosted Montreal-based company Reveal Surgical, which showcased an AI device that can detect tumors with just a touch.

“We can provide information that surgeons cannot see during their procedure,” said chief technology officer, François Daoust.

The medical equipment manufacturing company hopes the tool will reduce the need for repeat surgeries.

“Most patients that go through the surgery, you actually have a 30 per cent chance of leaving tumor behind following the procedure,” said Daoust.

Tech analyst Carmi Levy says while AI in health care could be a game changer, still one needs to be careful.

“It can get things wrong,” says Levy. “It’s often based on data that may or may not be legitimate ... if it isn’t used in a perfectly controlled situation, it could lead to negative outcomes [and] put patients at additional risk.”

The two-day event, held at the Palais des congrès, is expected to attract 6,000 visitors.