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Cleveland Clinic has entered into an agreement with DASI Simulations to co-develop artificial intelligence-based predictive modeling technology for the treatment of structural heart diseases.
The technology focuses on Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive procedure to replace a diseased aortic valve with an artificial valve without the need for open-heart surgery.
As part of a two-year co-development partnership, DASI and Cleveland Clinic are working to develop AI-based technology that can assist doctors in real time during heart procedures.
The goal is to create the world’s first AI-powered “co-pilot” system for catheterization labs, Cleveland Clinic said.
“We’re committed to innovating in the cardiovascular field for both patients and providers, and this relationship will elevate the standard of TAVR care for heart care providers across the country,” said Dr. Samir Kapadia, chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. "Developing our models to guide TAVR during the procedure with the help of AI will allow us to further enhance the safety of the procedure and ensure optimal valve selection."
WHAT'S THE IMPACT
The current simulation technology, which will be employed at Cleveland Clinic, is an AI-powered medical platform that changes routine imaging, such as a CT scan, into a four-dimensional predictive environment to help physicians personalize their treatment approach to optimize outcomes for patients.
The current technology, called PrecisionTAVI, is the only FDA-cleared product with a reimbursement code from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the specialized domain of structural heart therapies, said Cleveland Clinic.
The technology, coupled with computational modeling, has consistently demonstrated improvements in patient outcomes, the health system said.
Cleveland Clinic is an investor in DASI Simulations and may benefit financially from the eventual sale of the technology, it said.
Dr. Lakshmi (Prasad) Dasi, founder and chief technology officer of DASI, said the partnership marks a major milestone for the field.
“It validates our vision of advanced predictive modeling as the future of decision-making in structural heart therapies, while taking a bold step toward real-time physician decision support,” Dasi said by statement.
THE LARGER TREND
Eighty-eight percent of health systems are using artificial intelligence internally, but just 18% have a mature governance structure and fully formed AI strategy, according to an August report from the Healthcare Financial Management Association and market research company Eliciting Insights.
Governance is lacking despite the fact that 71% of survey respondents have identified and deployed pilot or full AI solutions in finance, revenue cycle management or clinical functional areas.
The use of artificial intelligence in healthcare is gaining popularity among physicians, found a February survey from the American Medical Association, though many remain guarded in their enthusiasm due to lingering concerns.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.