BD and Wellstar Deploy AI-Powered Medication Management Across Georgia Health System
BD and Wellstar Health System announced a partnership to integrate AI-enabled medication management tools across Wellstar's hospitals and care facilities. The system connects medication dispensing, infusion, and inventory workflows with real-time analytics and natural-language search capabilities.
The deployment combines BD's Pyxis Pro automated dispensing cabinets with BD Alaris Infusion Systems and BD Incada, an AI analytics platform. Clinicians gain real-time visibility into medication availability, customizable dashboards, and on-demand inventory insights. The Alaris system also allows staff to send infusion orders directly from electronic medical records via barcode scanning and receive status updates back into the EMR.
Why Medication Management Matters
Hospital labor costs tied to managing drug shortages nearly tripled between 2019 and 2024, rising from $359 million to $894 million, according to Vizient, a healthcare performance improvement company. Medication management remains one of the most labor-intensive operations in hospitals.
How the AI System Works
BD Incada differs from general-purpose language models because it translates natural-language questions into structured queries against hospital data rather than generating open-ended responses. The system uses multiple validation layers to ensure accuracy.
Omar Ahmed, senior vice president of R&D for BD's Connected Care Segment, explained the architecture: "The large language model translates user questions into structured queries using a governed semantic layer that maps business terms to data. The system then validates those queries through schema checks, access controls, and rule-based or statistical guardrails before execution."
BD designed additional safety guardrails to ensure plain-language answers are precise and reliable. The company intentionally avoids patient-specific clinical recommendations that could trigger FDA medical-device oversight, focusing instead on operational data, inventory, and workflow optimization.
Human Oversight Remains Central
Susan Wright, vice president of pharmacy services at Wellstar Health, said accuracy depends on team members' critical thinking, local oversight, and decision-making. The system includes validation layers such as medication barcode scanning, EMR cross-checks, and other controls. Wellstar monitors metrics on Incada's performance and tracks medication safety outcomes.
"We use advanced technologies, including the AI-powered tools by BD, to supercharge our team members' ability to deliver the highest levels of clinical care, safety, quality and patient experience," Wright said.
Wellstar also contributes to BD's Strategic Development Council for Medication Management Solutions, where Wellstar executives share expertise in enterprise pharmacy operations, medication safety, nursing, and informatics.
For management professionals overseeing healthcare operations, this partnership illustrates how AI for Management can reduce administrative burden while maintaining human control. Learn more about AI for Healthcare applications in clinical settings.
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