Šeškinės Poliklinika, Vilnius
Šeškinės Poliklinika, one of the largest public clinics in Lithuania, provides care for more than 85,000 patients and manages thousands of imaging procedures every month. Facing increasing demand, an evolving clinical landscape, and the constant pressure to deliver high-quality care within limited time and resources, the radiology department began exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) could support their diagnostic workflows.
Over the past four years, the department has implemented the Sectra* CXR Suite – a portfolio of AI tools tailored specifically for chest X-rays. These tools have helped the clinic transition from experimentation to practical, measurable improvements in daily operations, creating a safer, faster, and more collaborative diagnostic environment. In this case study, Dr. Antanas Pempe, Head of the Radiology Department, shares the clinic’s AI adoption journey, highlighting both challenges and clinical benefits.
At the time of adoption, AI in radiology was still in its early stages. The decision to introduce Sectra’s* technology was not driven by a backlog crisis but rather by a progressive mindset – an interest in exploring tools that could improve consistency, efficiency, and patient outcomes. While leadership recognized the potential, initial clinical enthusiasm was mixed.
“There was some resistance,” Dr. Pempe notes. “Radiologists are trained to trust their own judgment. Some said, ‘We don’t need AI – we’re already doing a great job.’”
The initial implementation was also technically limited, with AI operating outside the PACS system. This required additional steps for radiologists to access AI outputs, making it less likely to be adopted in routine practice. As integration improved and the tools became part of the native workflow, engagement began to grow. The department began shifting focus from evaluating the concept to realizing value.
Today, the clinic uses Sectra’s* AI in two primary capacities: real-time quality assurance and autonomous healthy CXR reporting. Both are fully integrated into the PACS, supporting radiologists and referring physicians within the tools they already use. This seamless access to AI-generated insights has been essential for adoption and sustained use.
Sectra’s* quality assurance solution continuously reviews chest X-ray reports and flags cases where AI findings do not align with radiologist conclusions. These alerts trigger a second review, not as a judgment on performance, but as an opportunity to verify and ensure diagnostic consistency.
The Head of Department emphasizes a collaborative approach. “When there’s a discrepancy, I review the case with the reporting radiologist. We discuss it together – not to assign blame, but to learn and make sure the patient receives the best care.”
This layer of AI oversight acts as a silent safety net. While disagreements are rare – typically one message every 30 to 60 days – the ability to catch subtle findings or ambiguous cases contributes to overall diagnostic confidence and continuous improvement.
In addition to quality checks, the clinic has also implemented Sectra* CXR Suite’s autonomous reporting tool, ChestLink™, for prophylactic (occupational) health checks. These exams are often required for job applications, licensing, or periodic screening, and typically involve healthy individuals.
ChestLink automatically clears chest X-rays that show no abnormalities with a high degree of certainty. Radiologists are only required to review studies where the AI detects even minimal deviations. This setup, designed with safety in mind, currently allows AI to autonomously report approximately 80% of these cases – significantly reducing routine workload.
This is where we see the most immediate impact. Patients don’t have to wait for radiologist confirmation. The examining physician can proceed immediately, knowing the scan was normal.
“This is where we see the most immediate impact,” the department head explains. “Patients don’t have to wait for radiologist confirmation. The examining physician can proceed immediately, knowing the scan was normal.”
By removing the bottleneck of manual review for healthy cases, the department accelerates service delivery without compromising care. The remaining cases still receive full radiologist attention, ensuring clinical oversight where it matters most.
The most meaningful change may be the shift in mindset. Through deliberate leadership, transparent discussions, and consistent use, AI has gone from a theoretical tool to a trusted part of clinical care.
“Radiologists take pride in their work – and rightly so. But they also recognize that collaboration, whether with colleagues or AI, leads to better care,” says Dr. Pempe.
Integration into PACS systems and clinical routines was key. “Once it was seamless, the resistance faded. Now, it’s just part of how we work.”
Radiologists take pride in their work – and rightly so. But they also recognize that collaboration, whether with colleagues or AI, leads to better care.
The clinic is now exploring how to more formally quantify the benefits – including time savings, patient wait time reductions, and workload shifts. While reimbursement models still require radiologists to sign off on all reports, future legal changes could enable full automation for select workflows.
“Doctors are already saving time. Patients are being seen faster. We know it works. Now we want to measure it more clearly,” says the department head.
When asked what advice he would give peers considering AI, the response was immediate:
“If you haven’t done it yet – do it now. AI is already part of our daily lives. If you wait, you’ll fall behind.”
With clinical, operational, and future-readiness benefits already in place, Šeškinės Poliklinika shows how AI can be quietly transformative when introduced thoughtfully and used consistently.
* When the article was written, Oxipit owned the product, of which now is part of Sectra.
Sectra’s CE-marked ChestLink™ and ChestEye™ read chest X-rays alongside radiologists — prioritizing the worklist and reporting confidently normal studies. Both devices support a semi-autonomous workflow, where radiologists sign every case, and a fully autonomous one, where confirmed normal studies are reported automatically — all inside Sectra IDS7, run via Sectra Amplifier Services.
