Researchers are using AI to look for factors that contribute to a longer length of stay, with the aim of identifying at-risk patients and developing scalable management strategies.
Dartmouth Health's clinician–researchers are leading the way in advanced heart failure care, delivering multidisciplinary treatment and conducting innovative research to develop best practices that enhance quality of care.
"A huge number of people are affected by heart failure, and it's the common denominator of all cardiac conditions," said heart failure cardiologist Hannah E. Bensimhon, MD. "Because there's no simple mechanical fix for heart failure, we partner with every cardiac subspecialty to optimize patient care and cross the bridge between inpatient and outpatient cardiology."
Led by Dr. Bensimhon, the heart failure team is conducting a new study to determine which measurable factors contribute to a longer length of stay for heart failure patients admitted to the hospital. By using artificial intelligence (AI) and partnering with statisticians, the team hopes to identify patients at risk for a longer stay and develop scalable best practices for managing their care—before, during, and after their hospital stay.
We hope to publish our results and develop management guidelines that clinicians across our network and throughout the nation can use to optimize care for their patients.
Hannah E. Bensimhon, MD
The team also uses remote monitoring technology to follow patients closely at home, giving them the best chance of identifying and treating potential exacerbations before they result in a hospital stay.
"For patients in our large, rural catchment area, remote monitoring has become a crucial part of our practice," said Dr. Bensimhon. "Combined with the shared care we deliver alongside our local cardiologists, our patients get the best of both worlds—local care close to home, and access to advanced heart failure treatment at our Lebanon campus, or at one of our partner transplant or VAD centers, when needed."
At every stage of care, patients can communicate with their heart failure team and work closely with specialized nurse navigators to ensure a seamless treatment experience.
"We have the specialized resources and research capabilities to provide a safety net that reduces readmission," said Dr. Bensimhon. "Across the spectrum of clinical care, inpatient care, and research, our goal is to find ways to get people home and keep them home—which contributes to better health and improved quality of life."