Future of Cardiac Care: Convergence of AI and Digital Health is Changing the Landscape

By Alfred Woo, Chief Product Officer

The US is experiencing a significant shortage of cardiac care services, an issue that will only worsen as the population ages and the number of cardiologists fails to keep up. Due to an aging population and unhealthy lifestyles, an estimated 45 million Americans will have clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 2050. This shortage of healthcare is most severe in "healthcare deserts," where it's extremely difficult to access specialists. For example, 46% of all counties in the United States and 86% of rural counties, do not have a single cardiologist. The fact that the average age of cardiologists, at 59, is higher than that of any other medical specialty is concerning as it indicates that an aging population of cardiologists will soon become a major issue.

This alarming reality requires innovative solutions to bridge the gap and ensure that everyone has access to quality care. Effective and efficient cardiac care can be provided anytime and anywhere through the implementation of remote patient monitoring, AI-powered solutions, and remote services. This access to life-saving care is particularly crucial for individuals who would otherwise have no healthcare options. Additionally, this reduces the overall need for healthcare services and reduces acute incidents that necessitate emergency care.

Convergence of AI and Digital Health: A New Era of Access

The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health offers a solution to the impending crisis. AI has the potential to increase the productivity of cardiologists, enabling effective treatment of more patients. Furthermore, AI can provide a crucial first level of support in areas with limited access to specialists.

This convergence signifies a new era of accessibility in cardiac care, where geographical barriers and specialist shortages no longer dictate patient outcomes. Imagine a patient in a remote area who can receive an initial evaluation through an AI-powered solution even before seeing a specialist. Technologies such as our AI-powered Kardia personal ECGs can empower people to monitor and manage their heart arrhythmias, which are often elusive and difficult to catch during a single doctor's visit, while also sharing their data instantly with their healthcare providers–all from the comfort of their home.

AI-Driven Solutions: Scaling Impact and Improving Accuracy

AI is revolutionizing cardiac care by scaling the impact of doctors and improving diagnostic accuracy. These algorithms have the potential to detect patterns that may be missed by the human eye, and also:

• Accelerate care by reducing the time from ECG to treatment

• Reduce false alerts and save physicians valuable time

• Evaluate ECGs with higher efficiency compared to cardiovascular technicians, resulting in faster results and fewer corrections

By automating routine tasks and detecting heart conditions more effectively, AI can free up cardiologists to focus on more complex cases and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

The Gamut of AI at AliveCor

AliveCor is already at the forefront of AI in cardiology, transforming the industry with clinically validated solutions that disrupt traditional care pathways and create a more connected, holistic cardiac health ecosystem. By employing a range of AI-powered features, we’re enabling stakeholders across every step of the care journey.

• Clinical AI: By employing clinical AI through our solutions to assess ECG recordings to detect signs of heart disease, we provide valuable insights for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Kardia personal ECGs are a prime example of how clinical AI can be used on the patient-front to detect six of the most common arrhythmias, including the life-threatening Atrial Fibrillation. On the other hand, Instant QT*, a clinician-facing AI solution, enables oncologists to interpret a patient’s QT interval on the spot when prescribing medication, relieving the need to send the patient to a hospital or requiring an in-demand cardiologist to interpret the ECG–accelerating care. Our latest innovation, AI-powered Kardia 12L, puts the diagnostic power of a full 12-lead ECG in the hands of nurses, technicians, and doctors whenever they are. The highly portable and clinically validated system makes medical-grade 12 lead ECGs possible in any acute care setting or even in a remote field location.

• Generative AI (GenAI): We employ Generative AI to help patients get the most value from their heart data by making complex medical data more understandable and actionable. For example, our heart health assistant, AskKardia, answers questions related to Kardia products, heart health, and healthy living and also offers 24/7 customer support. Powered by GenAI, AskKardia is included in AliveCor’s membership offerings. Kardia Intelligence, another GenAI-powered offering included with our membership, helps users better understand their ECG and blood pressure data showing trends, insights, and making actionable recommendations.

By delivering advanced, data-driven AI-powered solutions directly to patients and healthcare providers, we are transforming episodic care into continual care, making heart care accessible anytime and anywhere. Furthermore, our solutions are enabling the shift in the care landscape from a one-size-fits-all care model to a personalized care model, where doctors and AI collaborate to help patients make the best choices.

The Future is Patient-Centric

The future of heart health will no longer be restricted by location or a lack of specialists. With AI-driven innovations, care will become increasingly patient-centric. However, widespread adoption of new technologies can be slow due to prioritizing patient safety. Before gaining widespread acceptance, these technologies must be proven safe, clinically valid, and seamlessly integrated into clinical workflows. We are in the early stages of AI-driven innovation, and trust and adoption will eventually align with its promise. 

AliveCor is not only addressing the current needs of cardiac patients but also preparing for the future challenges through groundbreaking AI advancements, strategic partnerships with global healthcare leaders, and an expanding portfolio of clinically validated solutions and services. By integrating our technology into the broader healthcare ecosystem, we are leading the transformation towards a future where personalized, accessible, and patient-centric cardiac care becomes the standard.

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*QT measurements made using the EK12 ECG algorithm from GE HealthCare.