Chicago-based GI Partners of Illinois isn’t dabbling in artificial intelligence, it’s building around it.
The practice is treating AI as core infrastructure and early results are shaping everything from staffing needs to cash flow to patient access, COO Dr. Geogy Vennikandam told Becker’s.
AI as infrastructure, not experiments
Rather than running one-off trials, GI Partners of Illinois is embedding AI into day-to-day operations. The goal is to avoid letting administrative costs offset growth.
So far, the organization has partnered with multiple vendors, including Athelas Insights for revenue-cycle optimization, Acucare for EHR data support, Simbie AI for virtual call center operations, Bookend AI and Tandem Health for prior authorization and pharmacy workflows, and Heidi AI for documentation efficiencies.
“AI-driven service line redesign has been major,” Dr. Vennikandam said. “It reduces administrative FTE growth, shortens cycles and improves yield without increasing overhead.”
Payer defense
One driver behind the strategy is the growing sophistication of payer denials. Dr. Vennikandam said payers are increasingly using automation to delay or deny claims, and practices need equally modern tools to protect revenue.
“Payers are using AI for denials,” he said. “For years, we haven’t been able to fight fire with fire.”
Patient access gains
Simbie AI has also improved the patient experience, especially around scheduling and communication. Dr. Vennikandam said the group previously faced frequent complaints from patients who couldn’t reach a staff member by phone due to call volume.
“Simbie corrected that — 10 people can call the same line and all ten get picked up at the same time. It’s beautiful,” he said. “They can schedule 24/7 with direct integration into our EHR.”
Revenue recaptured by AI
One of the biggest unexpected financial wins of 2025, Dr. Vennikandam said, came from a simple but meaningful revenue recapture enabled by AI.
GI Partners of Illinois’ patient financial agreement includes a $250 late/no-show fee for procedures, but the group historically struggled to collect it. One practice site logged more than 3,000 no-shows in 2024, he said, largely because its EHR could not store credit cards or auto-charge patients when policy was triggered. With Athelas, that changed.
“Athelas brought that into our arsenal. We were able to capture a lot of, what I call, low-hanging fruit,” he said.
Why independence matters
Dr. Vennikandam said independence is central to the group’s AI momentum because it allows leadership to move quickly without layers of approval.
“Being independent also lets us move fast,” he said. “A lot of these AI initiatives, truth be told, might not fly in a bigger health system at this speed because there’s red tape, committee approvals, etc. Here, if I have a great idea, I do a demo and report back to the five-member executive board. It’s simple, and it enables us to innovate and truly benefit patients.”
Always keeping humans in the loop
Despite the scale of AI adoption, Dr. Vennikandam emphasized that automation is meant to assist, not replace, staff, and that practice leaders need to be intentional about how they communicate this shift.
“AI isn’t intended to be disruptive; it’s intended to be assistive,” he said, adding that keeping a “human in the loop” is critical.
Guardrails against overreliance
Dr. Vennikandam also said he’s watching closely for overreliance among newer physicians who trained in an era where AI support tools are becoming ubiquitous, including technologies such as Medtronic’s GI Genius.
AI as a recruitment advantage
The strategy is also helping GI Partners of Illinois compete for talent. Dr. Vennikandam said younger physicians want to join practices that are tech-forward and operationally efficient.
“Younger physicians love forward-thinking organizations,” he said. “I was talking to med students recently, and when they see an organization that isn’t stuck in the era of Excel spreadsheets for billing like we once were, they appreciate that. The newer generations are tech-centric and tech-forward.”
Ultimately, he said, the tools create leverage for physicians and a better experience for patients, while keeping overhead in check.
