Can AI Help Undertreated Patients Get Needed Cardiac Care?

For all the advancements we continue to see in medical technology, it would make sense that access to these advanced treatments would become pretty widespread. But that isn’t always the case. Research in heart care, for example, shows that not everyone has been getting the same treatment for dangerous heart rhythm conditions. Mount Carmel Cardiac Electrophysiologist Dr. Laura Gravelin is leading research that’s aiming to change that with some help from artificial intelligence (AI).

Heart Systems & Issues

“People whose heart pumping power is low can be at risk for a dangerous short-circuit of the heart’s electricity, which can cause sudden cardiac death,” says Dr. Gravelin. “When people have this risk, a device called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator can give their heart a shock from the inside when it senses a dangerous rhythm, restore regular rhythm, and prevent cardiac arrest. It can be absolutely lifesaving.”

Inequitable Access To Care

So why are only 20 percent of people who qualify for an implantable defibrillator actually getting one? And why are white men more likely than women or people of color to receive this appropriate care?

“We’re not entirely sure,” Dr. Gravelin suggests, “but the prevailing hypothesis is that bias, unconscious or otherwise, plays a part. Add that to the fact that electronic medical records (EMR) are now giving physicians a mountain of data to go through to get the information they need to best take care of their patients.” A smarter system is needed.

Finding A Solution

To solve the problem, Mount Carmel is collaborating with a team of people using an AI solution called natural language processing to quickly scan and review large amounts of EMR data and pull out the information that can help us better identify under-treated patients. Our hope is not just to find people who could benefit from these treatments, but to make sure they’re actually getting them.

“We’re only a few weeks into the project, so it’s still pretty new,” Dr. Gravelin adds. “But we think it’s a smarter, faster, more equitable way to determine and distribute appropriate care.”

And maybe even save lives.