Michigan hospitals are finding innovative ways to improve patient outcomes and remove barriers to timely care. One example of this comes from McLaren Health Care and its McLaren Heart & Vascular Institute, who recently launched a first-of-its-kind cardiovascular screening program to help better detect patients’ risk for heart disease.
Launched in partnership with Bunkerhill Health and its AI-powered Carebricks platform, the tool’s FDA-cleared clinical algorithm detects indicators for coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis – two common forms of heart disease that worsen over time if left untreated.
“This is a very important way of finding the disease before it causes any problems for the patient long-term or short-term,” said Dr. Samar Kazziha, chief medical director, McLaren Heart & Vascular Institute, McLaren Health Care.
Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in Michigan and the U.S. In addition to heeding controllable risk factors, early intervention can significantly reduce the odds of a life-threatening cardiovascular event.
McLaren’s new technology has alleviated the need for time-consuming tests and imaging that traditionally have been performed to detect the presence and risk of heart disease. Now, clinicians can spot signals much sooner – even during routine testing for other, non-heart related conditions.
Launching a screening program of this size and scope would have normally placed added strain on clinical teams, including time spent reviewing charts, checking guidelines and coordinating follow-up care. Bunkerhill Health’s Carebricks makes the process easier by enabling AI-powered workflows that analyze patients’ records already on file, clinical guidelines and McLaren’s own care protocols. As a result, McLaren can expand access to early cardiovascular screening while minimizing added workload for clinicians.
“By using the clinical information already available to us, this program enables us to identify patients who may benefit from earlier follow-up, often before symptoms appear, and ensures they are connected to the right care at the right time — helping to close critical gaps in detection, improving those patients’ long-term outcomes and overall quality of life,” said Kazziha.
To learn more about cardiac care services, visit the McLaren Health Care website. Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.
