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Blog
Liz Kah, MD

Supporting Timely Decision-Making: How AI Transforms Aortic Aneurysm Care

Aortic Aneurysm, Care Coordination, Workflow
Table of Contents

Sarah, a vibrant 78-year-old, had no idea a silent threat lurked within her. Her abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), had been incidentally spotted during a routine scan for an unrelated issue. In the past, such incidental findings, easily overshadowed by other pressing health concerns or missed during busy clinical workflows, might have gone unnoticed or without proper follow-up. 

The advent of AI algorithms allowed us to close the gap in treatment and follow-up. Thanks to a groundbreaking quality improvement program at Yale New Haven Hospital, powered by Aidoc’s advanced AI platform, Sarah’s story took a different turn.

The challenge was clear: AAAs are often found by chance, but the critical window for patient education and referral to a vascular specialist could be easily missed. This is where Aidoc stepped in, introducing its sophisticated algorithm to measure the abdominal aorta, streamlining reporting. The AI wasn’t just a passive observer; it actively generated measurements. A large language model is then run on the radiological reports, and compiles lists of at-risk patients, acting as a tireless digital sentinel.

Once the results by Aidoc are available, a dedicated team — comprising vascular surgeons and radiologists — rigorously reviewed the AI’s findings. This human-AI collaboration ensured accuracy and determined the appropriate course of action, carefully excluding patients unfit for repair or those already under external care.

For Sarah, this meant a nurse navigator reached out to her primary care physician. This seamless, AI-initiated communication ensured that Sarah’s AAA, despite her other health priorities, was brought to the forefront.

The initial six months of this program painted a compelling picture of success. Out of 264 patients identified by the AI, 47 (17.8%) received the crucial notification to their primary care physicians. Sarah, like many others, was part of a cohort with an average age of 75.8 and an average AAA diameter of 4.5 cm.

The Clinical Transformation

The impact on patient care was immediate and profound. Within that short period:

●  Early Referrals: 25 patients made appointments, with 24 (51.1%) seeing a vascular surgeon — a direct result of the combination of AI-generated measurements and report analysis by large language model. This meant earlier intervention and specialized care.

●  Proactive Surveillance: An additional nine patients connected with their primary care physician or cardiologist, leading to a total of 34 patients (72.3%) being enrolled in ongoing AAA surveillance. This proactive approach drastically reduced the risk of rupture, allowing for timely monitoring and management.

●  Timely Repairs: Most critically, six patients underwent necessary repairs, preventing potentially catastrophic outcomes.

●  Reduced Catastrophes: While one aortic rupture unfortunately occurred, the overall trend clearly indicated a significant improvement in capturing and managing these critical conditions before they became emergencies.

Aidoc helped significantly improve the quality of AAA care, leading to early referrals, consistent surveillance and timely repairs — all vital steps in preventing the devastating consequences of an aneurysm rupture.

The Financial Dividend

Beyond the undeniable clinical benefits, the Aidoc-powered system demonstrated a remarkable financial return on investment. By proactively identifying and managing these cases, the program effectively captured revenue that might otherwise have been lost. The system generated an estimated annualized revenue of $377,000, comprising:

●  24 new consults: Valued at $180 each.

●  30 AAA surveillance ultrasounds: Each bringing in $150.

●  Six endovascular aortic repairs: Each contributing a substantial $30,000.

This story underscores that Aidoc’s AI is more than just a technological marvel; it’s a strategic asset that simultaneously elevates the standard of patient care and fortifies the financial health of healthcare institutions. It’s a testament to the power of AI in creating a future where silent threats like AAAs are detected, managed and monetized effectively, ensuring both patient well-being and a sustainable healthcare system.

Interested in seeing more Aidoc successes?

Check out our customer stories.

Citation

Creisher, B.A., Dandu, C., Fischer, U., Ochoa Chaar, C.I., Mojibian, H., & Aboian, E. (Manuscript submitted). Utility of abdominal aortic aneurysm detection software for quality improvement at a tertiary referral center. Yale New Haven Hospital, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery; Yale Medicine Department of Radiology.

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Liz Kah, MD
Liz Kah, MD, is the Associate Vice President of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Aidoc. She's a physician by training, who has 20+ years of experience in healthcare strategy and innovation, including clinical AI. Dr. Kah’s diverse background spans management consulting at Boston Consulting Group, strategic and operational leadership at Kaiser Permanente and roles in both startups and nationally recognized healthcare and pharma organizations. Her experience includes product development, concept creation, marketing and the delivery of innovative solutions and services. Starting in medical school, she knew that computer-generated algorithms, clinical decision support, automation and AI could have an enormous impact on improving treatment quality, improving provider efficiency and addressing issues of health equity. Now, Dr. Kah works at the leading edge of clinical AI, optimizing patient outcomes and eliminating health inequity – which results in improved economic value and clinical outcomes – and breaking down silos, enabling enhanced communication and improved provider efficiencies.
Liz Kah, MD
Associate Vice President, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships

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