How a GI innovator transformed practice operations with AI
As CEO of GI Partners of Illinois, Dr. Geogy Vennikandam is building one of the nation’s most tech-forward GI practices. With Forus automating prior authorizations, his teams move faster, reduce denials, and protect patient access.
Dr. Geogy Vennikandam is a physician-turned-executive and currently serves as CEO of GI Partners of Illinois, the largest entirely physician-led, independent gastroenterology group in the state. Having transitioned from clinical practice to COO of GI Partners of Illinois, and ultimately to CEO, he possesses a unique perspective on operational bottlenecks that hinder both clinicians and administrators.
Dr. Geogy has taken a deliberate approach of investing in technology to remove frictions to patient care. For him, adopting AI isn't just about following a trend – it’s a defensive and offensive strategy.
“We want to maintain that degree of autonomy. When you have Wall Street guys coming into healthcare, you have to ask: are they in it for the people or the bottom line? My goal is to build a model that goes head-to-head with those systems by being more efficient and more patient-centric.”
To do that, Dr. Geogy looks for "frictionless" technology. He found it in Forus.
Empowering teams with AI
Before Forus, prior authorizations (PAs) were a manual, human-heavy process. Things fell through the cracks, follow-ups were missed, and patients waited days for life-changing medications.
Dr. Geogy sought to unburden his staff. He discovered Forus while researching ways to automate the most time-consuming parts of the workflow: manual chart reviews, faxing, and payer follow-ups.
As a leader, Dr. Geogy’s biggest hurdle was internal apprehension. Staff often fear that AI means displacement. He chose Forus specifically because of its "human-in-the-loop" philosophy. Dr. Geogy emphasizes that Forus does not remove people from the process, rather, his team works alongside Forus:
“I tell my team: Forus isn't here to disrupt you; it’s here to work hand-in-hand with you. Having a human overseeing the AI gives us visibility and accountability that we never had with a purely manual process."
The result was smooth onboarding, high trust, and strong collaboration between staff and Forus’ technology.
Results: "lightning speed" and operational excellence
- Doctors: "It makes my doctors look like they’re moving at lightning speed.” By removing the administrative back-and-forth, physicians can focus on practicing medicine.
- Patients: Long-term patients of the practice have noticed a "visible difference" in turnaround times. The gap between a prescription being written and a patient starting therapy has shrunk significantly.
- The Business: By reducing abandoned prescriptions and lowering administrative overhead, Forus helps the practice stay profitable, as a completely free solution.
“I know a winner when I see one," Dr. Geogy says about his partnership with Forus. "They’ve solved a massive pain point. As we grow into new states and markets, we want partners who grow with us. Forus has been game-changing."
Supporting Your Practice
If your gastroenterology or specialty practice is ready to streamline prior authorizations and accelerate access to therapy, sign up your practice for Forus today or book a demo to learn more.
