Intermountain Health is looking to artificial intelligence and high-touch coaching to increase care personalization and medication adherence for patients with heart failure.

WHY IT MATTERS 

Coaches from Story Health, which helps develop personalized care plans using clinical data, will be available to answer Intermountain patients' questions via text or call. They'll also remind them about essential medication changes and ensure that vascular patients have access to the medications they need between visits.

"Patients have long journeys with their health, and a significant part of that journey takes place after they leave the clinician’s office," said Tom Stanis, CEO and cofounder of Story Health, in the announcement. 

AI-integrated electronic health record technology and remote monitoring can help identify and address disconnected patient journeys, Stanis said. Once a need is identified, Intermountain's clinicians and Story Health's coaches will work collaboratively to improve patient engagement and outcomes.

Story Health offers a novel way to put the clinical team's plan in place, said Kismet Rasmusson, a cardiovascular nurse practitioner with the Intermountain Health Heart and Vascular Program.

"We’re always looking for innovative ways to care for patients with heart failure given the clinical importance of improving prescription access and adherence of life-saving medications," she said.

The results of the collaboration will be available later this year, according to the announcement.

THE LARGER TREND

Clinically-proven programs have been helping healthcare organizations treat chronic conditions since before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

New Orleans-based Ochsner Health launched a pediatric echocardiogram program more than 10 years ago to help bridge a gap of geographic and specialty disparity across Louisiana.

It continued to develop a number of hospital-based telehealth programs to reach new patients, and to improve engagement with existing patients with conditions like hypertension and type 2 diabetes, according to Dr. David Houghton, Ochsner's medical director for telemedicine and digital medicine.

"Digital medicine helps individuals manage their chronic conditions from home while staying connected to a dedicated care team that monitors their digital device readings while driving personalized results through lifestyle coaching and medication management," he told Healthcare IT News as the pandemic entered its second year.

With its comprehensive continuous care model, Ochsner already had the infrastructure in place to connect more patients in their homes and provide them with individualized, proactive, preventive interventions to manage chronic diseases.

ON THE RECORD

"The Intermountain heart and vascular team continuously evaluates innovative ways to enhance the value of care we deliver," said Sheralee Petersen, executive clinical director of the Intermountain Heart and Vascular Program, in the statement. 

"This collaboration with Story Health is an excellent example, offering a new approach to engaging and empowering patients. Together we aim to reduce heart failure mortality and readmissions while improving quality of life through evidence-based care."

Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.