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Isala Hospital Leads the Way with First AI-Powered Pulmonary Embolism Response in the Netherlands

Care Coordination, PERT, Pulmonary Embolism

In January this year, Isala Hospital became the first health system in the Netherlands to go live with an AI-powered Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) solution. Building on several years of experience embedding AI into everyday clinical practice, this milestone marks a significant step forward in how Isala manages one of the most life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies, enabling faster multidisciplinary decision-making, strengthening collaboration between care teams and delivering faster treatment to pulmonary embolism (PE) patients. 

“With AI in our PERT workflow, we identify high-risk patients faster and initiate the right treatment more quickly,” says Robert Riezebos, chair of the Cardiology department. “This improves the quality and safety of our acute care.”

Robert Riezebos, chair of the Cardiology department using Aidoc’s AI-powered PERT solution via mobile app.

More than 70 clinicians across radiology, interventional radiology, cardiology, and critical care now use the AI-powered PERT solution as part of routine clinical care at Isala. Running continuously in the background, the AI analyses all relevant CT scans for suspected pulmonary embolism, flagging positive cases directly to radiologists and automatically alerting the wider PERT team via a mobile app when high-risk patients are identified. Within the app, clinicians can view the patient’s imaging and data while they’re on the move — such as the automated calculation of the right ventricle-to-left ventricle (RV/LV) ratio1—and, together with a secure chat function, enable rapid, real-time interdisciplinary decision-making.

“With high-risk pulmonary embolism, speed and collaboration are paramount,” says Martijn Boomsma, radiologist. “AI helps us identify cases faster and automatically brings together the right experts.”

A key driver behind this deployment is Isala’s participation in the national TORPEDO-NL clinical trial. This investigator-initiated, randomised study, which is currently being conducted across 14 major Dutch teaching hospitals, evaluates catheter-directed thrombectomy versus systemic thrombolysis in adult patients with confirmed high-risk pulmonary embolism. Isala’s new AI-powered PERT workflow will help identify more eligible patients for the trial. The results are expected to inform future international guideline recommendations. 

“For a study like TORPEDO-NL, we need to find the right patient at the right time,” says Sven Adriaansens, interventional radiologist. “AI increases our visibility and accelerates coordination, which strengthens both patient care and research.”

Looking ahead, Isala doesn’t see its AI-powered PERT workflow as a single deployment at one hospital, rather as a foundation for broader collaboration. With AI now an integral part of its PE care pathway, the hospital is exploring the idea of a connected regional PE network with neighbouring hospitals, further improving efficiency and access to specialist expertise.

“It is not everyday you get to work with such a forward thinking institution like Isala” says Eleonore Parsley, Sales Director Western Europe. “I am proud of our partnership and look forward to supporting their care regionalisation goals.” 

By embracing AI at scale, Isala is not only enhancing the detection and treatment of pulmonary embolism, it is strengthening the way teams work together across the hospital. This achievement reflects the dedication of clinicians, radiologists and care teams who continue to lead the way in adopting innovation that directly benefits patients. Together, they are setting a new standard for acute care in the Netherlands.

The Aidoc and Isala team celebrating their much-anticipated AI go-live.

  1. CE marked by Imbio Inc. CE 2797

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