WATCH: AI Assists Long Island Hospital For 1st-Of-Its-Kind Hip Replacement Surgery

VALLEY STREAM, NY — The world of Artificial Intelligence, more commonly referred to as "AI," is now an important tool for doctors performing surgery.

For the first time in this country, AI assisted with a total hip replacement surgery. It took place recently at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital.

"Anything we can do to improve the patient's care, their outcome and the likelihood of success of our operation is really what's paramount in what we decide to do," Dr. James Germano, who performed the surgery, told Patch.

Germano has brought technology into the operating room with computer-assisted surgery, robotics and augmented reality. But with AI, help comes before the surgery starts with pre-operative tests and scans.

"Instead of having a 1-2 week lag, and having another individual go through all of that, the AI does all that for you in 3-4 minutes," Germano said. "It really helps speed up the process and allow us to deliver care much quicker," he said.

That expedited effort translates to a less costly stay for patients, "which I think is really beneficial of AI," Germano said, the hospital's chief of orthopedics.

But, the human element will not be removed from the equation.

"There are a whole set of checklists that you have to go through that the AI picks," Germano said. "We have to check mark it and say, 'I agree with that point.'"

By using the AI-assisted ORTOMA platform, Germano was able to work with his own equipment in the operating room with only minor alterations.

"Engineers are able to put in thousands of CT scans, thousands of X-rays and images to train," he said. "The AI can use that information, think about it and then make decisions based on it."

In May, Oceanside resident Dorothy Martino, 74, had the hip replacement surgery that allows her full mobility again. She had complete confidence in her surgeon working with AI for her procedure.

"She basically said to me, 'Dr. Germano, I heard you're a good doctor and I trust you. So you can do that if you think that's the best thing for me'," he said. "I really appreciate as a surgeon and as a physician that she could have that trust in me."

Watch the full "Patch Weekly Spotlight" interview with Dr. Germano below.