Naples, FL., February 8, 2024 – NCH has expanded its cardiac program with new artificial intelligence technology that will help detect heart valve disease earlier – and is the first healthcare system in the U.S. to do so. Using the SENSORA™ Cardiac Disease Detection Platform by Eko Health, NCH Medical Group primary care physicians can more accurately and consistently identify structural heart murmurs indicative of valvular heart disease (VHD) during routine primary care visits.
While your healthcare team listens to your heart with an Eko digital stethoscope, SENSORA™ easily and quickly collects data that helps detect VHD — a life-threatening condition diagnosed in more than 8 million Americans.
Older adults have approximately a 1 in 10 chance of developing clinically significant VHD, but more than half (57%) goes undetected. Left undetected and untreated, VHD can lead to heart failure, stroke, blood clots, and death. SENSORA™ helps our physicians determine if patients should be referred for additional testing or to a specialist for further evaluation and treatment. By detecting valve disease earlier, NCH can treat patients sooner and ultimately save more lives.
Currently, 15 NCH primary care offices use the new technology after a 90-day clinical pilot that concluded last year revealed more than 130 individuals were identified by SENSORA™ for further cardiac evaluation. And, advanced murmur detection is only the start for the primary care team at NCH as Eko Health is expected to seek FDA-clearance on additional AI capabilities to detect signs of heart failure and lung disease in the coming years.
“NCH is proud to be the first healthcare system in the United States to have this amazing AI technology,” said Bryan Murphey, MD, President for the NCH Medical Group. “The investment in the latest technologies and artificial intelligence to help catch potentially fatal conditions sooner, is a game-changer for our patients with early detection leading to better outcomes.
We’re proud of the strides we have made to make cutting-edge technology and practices available to our community – right here at home – as we continue on our mission to help those we serve, live a longer, happier, healthier life.
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