What You Should Know:
- The Deployment: Eko Health has partnered with Wayne General Hospital in Mississippi to deploy SENSORA, an AI-assisted cardiac detection platform, across emergency and primary care departments.
- The Technology: The system uses a digital stethoscope paired with FDA-cleared AI algorithms to analyze heart sounds in under one minute, instantly flagging potential structural heart disease, low ejection fraction, and atrial fibrillation (AFib).
- The Rural Health Crisis: Rural communities experience significantly higher cardiovascular mortality rates than urban areas. Because Wayne General lacks immediate specialty cardiology support, equipping frontline nurses and primary care doctors with AI-powered early detection is critical for triaging acute patients.
- The Financial Catalyst: The adoption of this technology is being accelerated by a new Category III CPT code, establishing a clear reimbursement pathway for health systems to integrate AI-assisted auscultation into routine care.
AI-Assisted Cardiac Detection in Rural Mississippi
When a Wayne General clinician examines a patient, the digital stethoscope captures high-fidelity heart sounds. Within 60 seconds, SENSORA’s AI algorithms analyze the audio profile to detect subtle acoustic signatures of severe cardiac conditions.
The system is specifically looking for three major red flags:
- Structural Heart Disease: Such as valvular disorders that cause distinct murmurs.
- Low Ejection Fraction: A key indicator of heart failure where the heart’s left ventricle doesn’t pump blood adequately.
- Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): An irregular heart rhythm that drastically increases stroke risk.
By surfacing these risks at the point of care, frontline teams can make immediate, informed decisions about care pathways—whether that means a routine referral, an immediate echocardiogram, or an emergency transfer.
“As the only hospital serving Wayne County, we take our role in supporting the community seriously,” said Andrew Porter, Chief Executive Officer of Wayne General Hospital. “Deploying SENSORA allows our teams to act with greater confidence during both emergency and routine visits. Identifying cardiac risk earlier helps us make faster, more informed decisions for our patients while keeping care close to home. It’s a practical innovation that supports our focus on providing the high-quality care our community relies on every day.”
