KSL News Specialist Tamara Vifenua reports on a landmark study from Intermountain Health that researchers are calling a "game changer." The study found that combining AI technology with remote patient monitoring for COPD and asthma -- conditions that together affect one in every 13 U.S. adults -- resulted in a 50% drop in hospitalizations and 20% fewer emergency room visits.
Clinicians describe how the AI-powered approach gives them insight into what's happening between clinic visits and healthcare events, allowing them to manage patients more effectively. The report also highlights the economic impact: preventable asthma and COPD hospitalizations currently cost more than $50 billion per year in the U.S., a figure AI-driven continuous monitoring could help reduce significantly.
The segment features a patient testimonial from someone enrolled in the program who credits the app with saving their life -- describing how it provides real-time feedback on their condition, prompting them to check in when things are declining and offering reassurance when their health is stable.