The “Healthy Person Program” Uses Innovative Technology to Identify Incidental Findings of Potentially Life-Threatening Conditions
Our hospital is proud to offer the “Healthy Person Program,” in conjunction with their technology partner EON, to provide evidence-based follow-up using a first-of-its-kind approach to identify and track patients with incidentally found abnormal findings. It will allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment of potentially catastrophic diseases.
The technology behind this revolution in patient care is Computational Linguistics, a discipline of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It is used to extract abnormal findings and clinically relevant information from radiology reports and then triage high-risk patients for provider review. It captures incidental findings with up to 98.3% accuracy and 98.1% precision.
In 2018, our hospital began using EON technology to improve screening for lung cancer by initiating the “Healthy Lung Program” to identify and track patients at risk for lung cancer.
Now, it is expanding the scope of the program: The Healthy Person Program focuses not only on lung cancer screening and tracking patients with incidental lung findings but also on incidental pancreas, incidental thyroid, incidental breast, and abdominal aortic aneurysm findings.
The Lung Cancer Screening Program: The Lung Cancer Program works with providers who have a patient who is a smoker or former smoker, and provides a low-dose CT screening that could save the patient’s life. It also identifies patients with incidental abnormal lung findings on X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs that have been ordered for clinical reasons other than concern about potential lung cancer.
The Enhanced Oncology Program: Oftentimes cancer can go undetected or symptoms may not show until late stage. With the innovative use of AI evidence-based guidelines, the Healthy Person Program is able to identify incidental findings regarding a patient’s thyroid, pancreas, and breast. The program then assists primary care providers with management and follow-up needs if indicated from the clinical pathway.
The goal is to find and treat cancer earlier and ultimately help save your patients’ lives. Even if an incidental finding is not clinically significant at the time of the current imaging exam, it may become relevant in the future. With the Eon Centralized Management team, we will be able to provide surveillance for your patients and ensure follow-up is completed if indicated.
Healthy Vessel Program: Whether you are aware of a patient’s abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or it is revealed incidentally, it is essential to monitor its progression, or act quickly to prevent rupture. In either case, when a patient is part of the Healthy Person Program, the management and treatment of their AAA can be done precisely, improving outcomes.
What happens if an abnormality is found?
If an abnormality is found, Eon’s Essential Patient Management platform tracks the patient until they either clear the program and no longer need to be followed, or their findings change and they need further diagnostic intervention. This results in earlier-stage diagnosis of lung cancer, which can significantly increase the treatability of the disease – and patients’ chances of survival.
How does the Healthy Person Program interface with providers?
When a patient undergoes an imaging study for any condition, disease, or injury and has an incidental condition identified, such as lung, thyroid, pancreas, or breast cancer, or an AAA, Eon’s Care Management team is notified of the finding. Care Management then reaches out to the primary care provider and the patient to ensure they are aware of the finding. The Care Management Team aligns with local radiologists in addition to following national guidelines for further clinical coordination.
After that, our hospital will work with each patient to ensure they are monitored through our Program, while keeping primary care providers updated of any changes or additional needs.
Who determines the follow-up care plan for a patient?
Their provider does. The Care Management team utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to review patients’ images and provide recommendations from published guidelines. They communicate with the provider’s office or the provider directly with any recommendations and will help with reminders on any follow-up needs.
To Refer a Patient for Screening and Participation in the Healthy Person Program
If your patient needs an X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound, they can come to our hospital and have their imaging overseen by the Healthy Person Program. If you have a patient with a specific finding, the Care Management team can help manage their condition and any follow-up needs.
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