What You Should Know:
– Medtronic today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a three-year contract for the deployment of nearly 100 additional GI Genius™ AI-powered endoscopy units across VA medical centers nationwide.
– The expansion aims to provide veterans with access to state-of-the-art colorectal cancer screening technology.
Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening for Veterans
Colorectal cancer is a significant health concern, and early detection is crucial for successful treatment and improved patient outcomes. The VA performs approximately 250,000 colonoscopies each year, diagnosing around 4,000 new cases of colorectal cancer annually.
Medtronic’s GI Genius™ unit uses AI to assist clinicians in detecting polyps during colonoscopies. This technology can reduce missed polyps by up to 50%, significantly improving the accuracy of colorectal cancer screenings.
Expanding Access to AI-Assisted Colonoscopies
This new contract builds on Medtronic’s existing partnership with the VA, which has already seen the installation of over 360 GI Genius™ units across 140 VA facilities in the United States and Puerto Rico. This expansion marks a significant step towards providing wider access to AI-assisted colonoscopies throughout the VA network.Key benefits include:
- Enhanced Detection: AI-powered technology assists clinicians in identifying polyps that may be missed during traditional colonoscopies.
- Improved Accuracy: Reduces the rate of missed polyps, leading to earlier detection and diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
- Better Patient Outcomes: Early detection and diagnosis can significantly improve treatment outcomes and survival rates for veterans.
- Increased Efficiency: AI assistance can potentially streamline the colonoscopy procedure and improve efficiency.
“We’re truly honored to expand our work with the VA to bring AI innovation directly to more patients, especially to Veterans who have proudly served our Nation,” said Raj Thomas, vice president and president of the Endoscopy business, which is part of the Medical Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic. “Colorectal cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among Veterans, and this partnership is more than technology — it’s about setting a new benchmark in care with AI-driven precision to support earlier, more accurate diagnoses. This commitment advances our fight against colorectal cancer and reinforces Medtronic’s mission to deliver life-changing care to patients everywhere.”
