Canadian hospital in Kingston, Ontario, pioneers the use of artificial intelligence for heart imaging technology.
Kingston Health Sciences Centre Introduces Revolutionary AI Technology for Heart Disease Diagnosis
The Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) in Kingston, Ont. is making a significant leap in medical technology with the introduction of Heartflow, an AI-based technology for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) on CT scans. This marks the first time such AI technology is being used in Canada for this purpose, revolutionizing patient care and potentially reducing healthcare costs.
The adoption of Heartflow at KHSC was made possible by a generous $100,000 donation from local donor Stephen Sorensen. Sorensen, a believer in the power of innovation, particularly in the field of medical imaging, sees Heartflow as an innovative tool that will create a healthier future for KHSC patients.
From a patient perspective, Heartflow spares them an invasive procedure they may not have needed. Before Heartflow, everyone with a possible significant blockage had to undergo cardiac catheterization, an invasive test that involves threading a wire into the arteries to measure blockages. With Heartflow, radiologists and cardiologists can measure blood flow through a patient's coronary arteries using a CT scan, providing a safer, faster, and more accurate diagnosis of low blood flow for patients living with chest pain and suspected CAD.
Heartflow is expected to streamline workflows and standardize CAD assessment, reducing unnecessary invasive procedures and optimizing patient management. This can potentially lower costs by preventing overtreatment and targeting interventions to those who most need them. The technology is also projected to reduce unnecessary catheterizations by up to 30 per cent, as doctors can make the measurement directly from a CT scan.
Dr. Omar Islam, head of diagnostic radiology at KHSC, stated that Heartflow is a game changer for patient triage. Dr. David Pichora, CEO of KHSC, credits Sorensen's visionary support for investing in state-of-the-art technology.
The use of Heartflow AI-based technology at KHSC enables more precise and comprehensive CT scan analysis for CAD, leading to changes in treatment strategy for more than 50% of patients beyond standard CT findings, enhancing early and personalized intervention. However, explicit cost savings data at KHSC are not publicly detailed yet.
The introduction of Heartflow at KHSC is a significant step in applying advanced AI tools in cardiovascular imaging within Canadian healthcare. It is expected that this innovation will lead to improved patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and a more efficient healthcare system.
- The AI-based technology, Heartflow, is being utilized at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) on CT scans, revolutionizing healthcare and potentially reducing costs.
- Local donor Stephen Sorensen's generous $100,000 donation made the adoption of Heartflow at KHSC possible, as he believes in the power of innovation, particularly in medical imaging.
- Heartflow spares patients an invasive procedure like cardiac catheterization and offers a safer, faster, and more accurate diagnosis by measuring blood flow through a patient's coronary arteries using a CT scan.
- The adoption of Heartflow at KHSC is projected to streamline workflows, reduce unnecessary invasive procedures, lower costs by preventing overtreatment, and reduce unnecessary catheterizations by up to 30%.
