Screws Discusses AI in Health Care
Hattiesburg Clinic co-sponsored the Area Development Partnership’s (ADP) Accelerate Luncheon alongside Forrest General Hospital. This annual event brings together community leaders, professionals and innovators to explore advancements that help shape the future of health care in our region.
This year’s keynote speaker was Jeremy C. Screws, MD, a physician with Hattiesburg Clinic Pediatric Gastroenterology and lead physician informaticist with Hattiesburg Clinic’s EpicCare department, who captivated the audience with his insight on a topic that is rapidly transforming the medical field: Augmented Intelligence (AI) in Health Care.
Dr. Screws discussed the growing impact of AI technologies in patient care, diagnostics and medical decision-making. “AI isn’t here to replace physicians,” Screws said. “It’s here to support us — to give us tools that make our work more efficient and ultimately more patient-focused.”
Screws highlighted how AI is transforming health care through tools like ambient documentation, which frees up providers to focus more on patients, and predictive analytics that help identify high-risk individuals and improve triage. He also noted that clinical decision support and AI-driven image analysis are enhancing diagnostic accuracy and aligning care with current guidelines.
“The key is to use AI as an enhancement, not a replacement,” Screws shared. “Medicine is still about people. AI helps create shorter wait times, more focused visits and enhanced provider workforce efficiency —all of which lead to a better patient experience and higher satisfaction.”
Screws emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between technology and the human connection in medicine by starting with small pilots to evaluate adoption and usability. Screws also highlighted future potential for AI to reduce burnout by automating repetitive tasks and allowing providers to spend more time where it matters most: with patients.
Kristy Gould, Director of Marketing & Communications at Hattiesburg Clinic, provided sponsor remarks and reflected on another year of growth and progress. Gould celebrated the clinic’s continued expansion, including new providers and services, and reaffirmed Hattiesburg Clinic’s commitment to advancing health care across the Pine Belt and beyond.
Gould shared Hattiesburg Clinic’s Epic Gold Stars Level 10 achievement for the past five years which reintegrates the clinic’s commitment to technological leadership and integration of advanced tools.
Hattiesburg Clinic also provided a door prize at the event, which was won by Andrew Hatten with Bryan Nelson P.A.
Hattiesburg Clinic is honored to support events like the Accelerate Luncheon, which brings awareness to the advancements and innovations shaping the future of care in Mississippi.
###
About Hattiesburg Clinic:
Hattiesburg Clinic is Mississippi’s largest privately-owned, multispecialty clinic. Founded in 1963, Hattiesburg Clinic has expanded to include over 450 physicians and providers, along with 2,500 employees, serving patients across more than 17 counties in Mississippi. Hattiesburg Clinic is committed to being the health care provider of choice in the communities we serve.
