New partnership launches LGI Flag, a machine-learning tool that uses electronic health record data to flag patients who may be at a higher risk for lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders associated with chronic occult bleeding
LGI Flag, a machine learning-based solution developed by health care technology pioneer Medial EarlySign, will be implemented this month in SLUCare patient-care offices. The clinical risk identification tool will use ordinary medical data to help flag patients at greater risk of harboring lower GI disorders associated with chronic occult bleeding such as colorectal cancer, precancerous adenomas, polyps, irritable bowel disease, ulcers, and diverticulitis.
The system flags patients using ordinary data, collected over the course of routine care, and sophisticated machine learning techniques, enabling health care providers to focus attention on patients who are most likely to benefit from further evaluation and possible intervention, review their charts, and determine next steps.
“The ability to identify high-risk patients sooner and intervene with them earlier enables us to help improve care and long-term survival rates,” said William Manard, MD, SLUCare Family and Community Medicine physician and Chief Medical Informatics Officer. “Earlier detection and treatments for lower GI disorders can also lead to improved and more manageable outcomes. This is an ideal way to use technology to deliver a higher quality of care for our patients in the greater St. Louis community.”
Medial EarlySign spent years investigating existing electronic health record data with leading international health care providers to determine what insights could be gained by applying machine learning techniques to routine medical data. EarlySign is now working closely with SLUCare to effectively deploy these algorithms in its clinical workflow.
“By seeking provider input, we better understand the challenges they face and can help with the early detection of severe illness,” said Dr. Jeremy Orr, Chief Medical Officer for Medial EarlySign. “This is part of our approach – to understand the practical aspects of putting these predictors into clinical practice. Great models fail if they are not well implemented.”
SLUCare and Medial EarlySign were introduced to one another through the BioSTL initiative GlobalSTL, a St. Louis-based organization that recruits high-growth companies from around the world to enrich and expand St. Louis’s innovation economy and bring competitive advantages to local corporations and health systems.
“GlobalSTL’s deep connections and understanding of St. Louis’ health care organizations was key to facilitating the speedy implementation of LGI Flag within SLUCare,” said Vijay Chauhan, GlobalSTL Lead. “Leveraging EarlySign’s advanced AI technology will enable SLUCare physicians to identify patients most likely to benefit from further evaluation and possible intervention, which can improve patient outcomes, while it also provides a competitive advantage for SLUCare. St. Louis is a powerhouse in health care, and Medial EarlySign is poised to build significant presence, making our region a leader in health care innovation – outcomes that are the essence of GlobalSTL’s win-win-win strategy.”
About SLUCare
SLUCare Physician Group is the academic medical practice of Saint Louis University, with more than 500 health care providers and 1,200 staff members in hospitals and medical offices throughout the St. Louis region. SLUCare physicians are among the most highly trained in their fields – more than 50 specialties in all – and are national and international experts, renowned for research and innovations in medicine. For more information, please visit http://slucare.edu/
About BioSTL
Since 2001, BioSTL has laid the foundation for St. Louis’ innovation economy with a comprehensive set of transformational programs that advance St. Louis’ leadership in solving important world challenges in agriculture, medicine, health care, and other technology areas. BioSTL has introduced nationally-acclaimed initiatives in startup creation and investment (BioGenerator), strategic business attraction (GlobalSTL), physical environment (including the Cortex Innovation District and BioGenerator Labs), entrepreneur support (BioSTL Fundamentals), seed and venture capital, a diverse and inclusive workforce, and public policy.
About Medial EarlySign
Medial EarlySign helps customers with early detection and prevention challenges. The company develops post-analytical models to provide personalized insights on a variety of chronic and acute medical conditions like cancers, diabetes and associated complications. Medial EarlySign uses its solution platform (AlgoAnalyzer™) to help customers operationalize these insights into their existing workstreams. be it through empowerment of clinical pathology, decision-making by physicians, or effective stratification for care management. Medial EarlySign’s flag engines spring from deep expertise in applying machine learning to identify subtle signs within routine lab test results and clinical data. The company’s platform has been supported by peer-reviewed research published by internationally recognized health organizations and hospitals. Founded in 2009, Medial EarlySign is headquartered in Kfar Malal, Israel.
