The Modern Pace of Cardiology

New innovations in technology over the past decade have created tremendous opportunities in healthcare. From improvements in the secure collection and storage of patient records, to advancements in diagnosing and treating patients, researchers and health care providers have made a profound impact in the medical field. One area in particular that is expected to experience unremitting transformation with new trends in 2019 is cardiology.

The American Heart Association recently published a list of statistics for 2019 concerning heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Some of the staggering facts include:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is currently the leading cause of death in the United States.
• Approximately every 40 seconds, an American will have a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, usually due to a blood clot. The heart muscle then begins to die, as it does not receive oxygenated blood it needs to properly function.
• Cardiovascular events are expected to occur in about 1,055,000 individuals, including 720,000 new and 335,000 recurrent in the United States in 2019.
• Approximately every 40 seconds an American will have a stroke. A stroke takes place when vital blood flow and oxygen are cut off from the brain. This occurs when blood vessels leading to the brain get blocked or burst. About 795,000 Americans have a new or recurrent stroke annually.
• About 5.3 million Americans have Atrial Fibrillation– a flutter or irregular heartbeat, which can lead to heart related complications, such as blood clots, stroke, and heart failure.

With such staggering numbers related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease in the United States, it is important to highlight the innovations in technology and the changes they have brought and will continue to bring to the field of cardiology.

Information Technology

Information technology is the use of telecommunications systems for storing, retrieving and sending data. Physicians and hospitals have started to take advantage of the vast possibilities’ information technologies can provide, along with potential opportunities in the future.

• Electronic Medical Records – Information technology solutions have become the norm in many doctors’ offices and hospitals, as many have converted from paper medical records to electronic medical records (EMRs). The new way in which patient data is collected and kept allows it to be more accessible from one location, and identifies inefficiencies in order to cut costs and improve recording for information of the services.
• Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Software – Clinical Decision Support software is another form of information technology being introduced to help doctors and hospitals meet guideline-based care in cardiology and other specialties. It will also help clinicians make better care decisions (such as choosing proper tests and procedures) in order to avoid tests which would not be reimbursed, reducing costs for the patient.
• Personalized Patient Care – Information technologies will provide patients with remote personalized care. Within the last few years we have started to see the continuous rise of these capabilities, as messaging on smart phones leads to improvements in care and fulfillment with doctors’ orders. It also gives doctors and patients the ability to monitor conditions through remote collection patient information as well as syncing wearable devices; which monitor existing conditions.

Artificial Intelligence

As information technology continues to collect and monitor patient data, it also paves the way for the future of healthcare technology — artificial intelligence (AI). AI will not only monitor data and efficiently answer questions but will also alert physicians when it identifies a problem. Listed below are a few applications of artificial intelligence to keep an eye on in the future.

• Population Health Monitoring – Data can be obtained across health care systems, or regional health information exchanges. The data obtained will target patient populations, who are eligible for new medical programs. Preventative programs in cardiology will help identify symptoms before they occur, by screening patients who are at high risk for developing heart failure, or other cardiovascular problems.
• Reducing Readmissions – Many patients return to their doctors or are readmitted to hospitals because they fail to comply with physician discharge orders. AI will aid in reducing high readmission rates by identifying patients who need additional care and counseling before and after they are discharged.
• Improved Accuracy – Along with the physician, AI is able to review cardiac imaging to help identify abnormalities.
• Time Management – AI will also reduce the overall time of the measurement by performing it automatically without human intervention.

New innovations in healthcare technology continuously evolve in order to safely and effectively deliver the best possible care. GoMo Health shares this passion and focuses on achieving positive outcomes through patient engagement, with the creation of our own information technology. GoMo Health Concierge Care provides health management solutions that support the complete continuum of care.