AI-powered screening expands heart care access for Kentucky patients

Dean Oschwald has always had his finger on the pulse of technology.

“I retired from IBM in 2001,” he said, offering context for his passion for the latest advancement now poised to change the course of healthcare at Baptist Health Lexington.

After more than two decades in software development, Dean joined Baptist Health Medical Group as Director of Operations for Cardiovascular Services. He brought with him not only a drive for innovation, but also a deep commitment to serving his home region of eastern Kentucky.

That commitment aligned with new possibilities when Gery Tomassoni, MD, returned from a national conference with news of SENSORA™ – an FDA-cleared, AI-powered platform that works with Eko’s digital stethoscopes to detect early signs of cardiac disease. Inspired by its potential, Dean and Dr. Tomassoni partnered with Baptist Health Foundation Lexington to fund a 90-day trial.

“The AI found the same issues an echo would find,” Dean said. “This means a lot of patients can find the issue sooner – and many of these patients wouldn’t have received the echocardiogram due to cost.”

A simple five-minute scan with SENSORA™ can generate a standard three-lead echocardiogram – or EKG – a commonly used method to monitor the heart’s electrical activity.

“We compared the AI’s results with patients that already had an EKG, and it correlated very well,” Dean explained. “Then, we tested it with new patients and found their data was real. If this is used on a patient and says their heart function is normal, there’s a 98% chance they have no issues.”

In places where traditional diagnostics may be out of reach due to cost or access, Dean believes Eko’s SENSORA™ platform has the potential to be a game-changer. It could also make all the difference for Lexington cardiology, which Dean said sees between 1,200 and 1,300 new patients each month – though not all are true cardiac cases.

“This is causing a delay in our follow-up appointments,” Dean said. “Many of the new patients we see are healthy, but the referral source saw something they felt needed to be looked at.”

SENSORA™ could help filter those cases, which would free up vital appointment slots for patients with real need. With 16 satellite clinics across the region, the goal is clear: get more units into the hands of rural providers, so patients who truly need more advanced care can get it – and those who don’t can be spared the fear, time and expense.

Currently, there are 17 units in Lexington cardiology. Each includes a special stethoscope paired with an iPad connected to the AI. Looking ahead, Dean hopes to see more units spread across the region – and with continued donor support, it’s possible.

“If the Foundation wasn’t involved in this, we wouldn’t have it,” Dean said. “The fact that there are people out there willing to invest is huge. I hope they [donors] understand what this means to a lot of patients.”