Griffin Health, located in Derby, Connecticut, is home to Griffin Hospital, a 160-bed acute care community hospital serving over 130,000 residents in the Lower Naugatuck Valley Region. The health system faced a common challenge of ensuring timely follow-up for patients when imaging studies revealed findings requiring additional tests for diagnosis. Todd Liu, the executive vice president and COO at Griffin Health, highlighted the issue of missed follow-up imaging studies and the lack of efficient tracking and communication between radiology and care teams.
To address this challenge, Griffin Health partnered with Inflo Health, a vendor specializing in follow-up care IT solutions. The proposal involved leveraging artificial intelligence to identify radiology reports with recommended follow-up imaging studies, automate care coordination workflows, and improve patient safety and compliance. The platform was designed to seamlessly integrate with existing processes at Griffin Health, enhancing the internal capacity to track and act on findings without disrupting workflows.
The implementation of the Inflo technology led to significant improvements in follow-up compliance and patient safety at Griffin Health. The platform analyzed radiology reports to identify significant findings and organized patients into care pathways based on the required follow-up. Automated provider outreach ensured timely orders for follow-up tests in the EHR, monitored patient engagement, and tracked the completion of follow-up studies. Care coordinators benefited from a centralized dashboard that provided real-time insights into the status of each case, from initial findings to follow-up completion.
The results of implementing the technology were impressive. The closure rate for incidental findings increased by 50%, ensuring more patients received the necessary care. The follow-up completion rate rose by 17%, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment for flagged patients. Additionally, 18 patients were successfully enrolled in a lung cancer screening program based on artificial intelligence recommendations, potentially saving lives by catching diseases early.
Todd Liu shared valuable advice for other healthcare organizations considering similar technology solutions. He emphasized the importance of clearly defining the problem to be solved and setting clear success metrics. It is essential to choose technology that generates actionable information and seamlessly integrates into existing workflows. Collaboration with providers and care team members is crucial for successful implementation and utilization of new tools.
In conclusion, Griffin Health’s success story with Inflo Health highlights the transformative impact of leveraging AI technology to improve follow-up care and patient outcomes. By prioritizing patient safety, compliance, and seamless integration, healthcare organizations can enhance the quality of care delivery and drive positive outcomes for their patients.
