What You Should Know:
– Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute today launched the newest solution on its care platform, a comprehensive program to support patients living with or at risk of developing Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).
– Built in collaboration with Story Health, a digital health company transforming specialty care delivery, the new program offers health care organizations a wraparound approach that engages patients in between clinic visits.
Revolutionizing AFib Care: Story Health’s Comprehensive Program for Improved Outcomes
The Story Health AFib program is a comprehensive solution encompassing all aspects of accessible, evidence-based care for AFib. This includes symptom management, accelerated treatment, stroke prevention, and continuous patient support.
Despite being the most prevalent form of cardiac arrhythmia, AFib remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, often occurring alongside conditions like heart failure and hypertension, significantly elevating stroke risk. Research indicates that AFib contributes to approximately 20–30% of the most common type of stroke, particularly in older patients.
While evidence-based guidelines outline standard AFib care, significant treatment variations and disparities exist, leading to suboptimal outcomes. Story Health’s AFib program addresses these challenges by seamlessly integrating with clinical teams within health systems, ensuring patients remain engaged with their care regimen between clinic visits. This program employs a virtual, asynchronous care model supported by a technology platform and experienced health coaches who assist patients in overcoming barriers, including social determinants of health.
The core capabilities of the Story Health AFib program provide tailored support across different stages of the disease:
1. Rapid treatment optimization: Supporting lifestyle modifications, monitoring and adjusting medications for AFib and comorbidities, and identifying candidates for procedures such as ablations.
2. Health data collection and monitoring: Analyzing ECG and AFib-specific symptom data to inform care plan adjustments integrated into the health system’s EHR.
3. Active support from specialized health coaches: Acting as care coordinators, guiding multidisciplinary care and reducing clinical workload by supporting patients between visits.
Story Health has established itself as a leading digital health partner in specialty care. The launch of the AFib program complements the company’s existing industry-leading programs, which have already revolutionized cardiology care in numerous prestigious healthcare organizations, benefiting tens of thousands of patients nationwide.
Following its initial implementation at Saint Luke’s, the Story Health AFib program will gradually roll out to select health system customers in the coming months.
“Atrial fibrillation poses significant health risks to our patients, and every one of them deserves ongoing support whether they are in one of our facilities or not,” said Sanjaya Gupta, MD, cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute. “While the demands of the current health care system can make it difficult to deliver on that promise, this collaboration with Story Health is an incredible opportunity to build a digital health program from the ground up that both extends the reach of our clinicians and elevates the overall level of care we deliver.”
