Cardiac MRI (CMR) is the gold standard for cardiac imaging, yet most patients are still unable to access the modality. Can AI-assisted CMR change that fact – and deliver a wider availability of high-quality imaging for cardiac patients?
We recently sat down with Dr. Raymond Kwong, Director of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Brigham and Women’s Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, to discuss the role of automation in cardiac MRI:
Q. Why is Cardiac MRI Important?
A. Cardiac MRI is a comprehensive test that offers a wealth of information, including cardiac structures, functions, and important physiology like heart valves and muscle. It is vital for clinical caregivers because the modality provides specific information about what therapy or medications can produce the greatest benefit for patients.
Q. Why is Cardiac MRI Not More Widely Available?
A. Cardiac MRI presents several challenges that have historically made it difficult to implement and scale. The test requires a lot of skill to perform and interpret the scan, and there is currently a lack of technologists and physicians able to set up and interpret them. The scans are also often done on patients who are critically ill, so the duration and complexity of the scan add further impediments to adoption.
Q. What Got You Interested in Vista AI?
A. An AI-assisted approach to cardiac MRI has many benefits. It can produce the images in a more consistent fashion and eliminate many of the planning steps, which cuts down on the time of the scan and reduces the total time the patient spends in a scan—ultimately improving their comfort.
Q. What Results Has Vista AI Produced?
A. Over the two years since we introduced Vista AI, we’ve improved our scan time and increased the number of available slots for cardiac MRI by 50%. This has substantially reduced wait time and improved image quality. Ultimately, far more patients can now access cardiac MRI in our hospital systems.
Despite the increase in scan volume, the technologist’s job is actually easier. They tell me their stress levels have been reduced because of Vista AI. And our physicians who read the scans report that the image quality and confidence in scan readability have improved, leading to more consistent, high-quality reports.
Q. How Do You Plan to Use Vista AI in the Future?
A. Vista AI has already enabled us to perform around 3,000 cardiac MRI scans using a single cardiac MRI scanner. To benefit more patients in the Greater Boston area, we plan to implement this tool in other scanners within our hospital system to benefit other patients regionally.
Watch Dr. Raymond Kwong’s RSNA 2024 Presentation
Ultimately, Dr. Kwong believes AI-assisted CMR will help give both patients and clinicians a better experience – and improve cardiac care across the country. Watch his presentation at RSNA 2024, where he shared two years’ worth of clinical data and revealed how Vista AI’s innovative platform has improved workflow efficiency, ensured high-quality and consistent imaging, and enabled scalable growth for his CMR program.
