Emily Vespa

Jan 24, 2025 | northcarolinahealthnews.org | Emily Vespa

For more than four months, 32-year-old Jackson Hedgepeth has lived in a small room at Atrium Health Union hospital in Monroe, waiting for help. Jackson has autism, and he’s nonverbal. He’s been on the waitlist for admission to J. Iverson Riddle, a state-operated center that provides services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (often referred to as I/DD) for more than a year.

Jan 8, 2025 | northcarolinahealthnews.org | Emily Vespa

Co-published with The Charlotte LedgerAs North Carolina’s health care systems increasingly expand their use of artificial intelligence, state leaders say they want to pioneer policy to regulate the rapidly evolving technology.   The efforts would be some of the first steps toward placing guardrails on AI in health care at the state level. AI, which involves software that uses scads of information to accomplish tasks once thought to require human intelligence, has proliferated in health care.

Jan 7, 2025 | flipboard.com | Emily Vespa

As AI advances in NC health care systems, state leaders call for oversightCo-published with The Charlotte LedgerAs North Carolina’s health care systems increasingly expand their use of artificial intelligence, state leaders …

Jan 7, 2025 | northcarolinahealthnews.org | Emily Vespa |Michelle Crouch |Charlotte Ledger

Co-published with The Charlotte LedgerFaced with a growing health care worker shortage and provider burnout, some North Carolina health care leaders have said there is great promise in artificial intelligence systems. The state’s health care systems have been early adopters of AI tools — overt and invisible — that are shaping the patient and provider experience. Across North Carolina, AI is helping providers predict health risks, communicate with patients and manage administrative tasks.

Nov 15, 2024 | qcitymetro.com | Emily Vespa

Human traffickers are trickling into western North Carolina to exploit the trail of vulnerability that Hurricane Helene left in its wake, a law enforcement representative warned at a recent North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission meeting. Anti-trafficking leaders said they expect to see more trafficking as communities begin long-term recovery efforts.