Artificial intelligence makes inroads into Central Coast healthcare

The Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo is now using an application that helps healthcare professionals diagnose and treat stroke patients more quickly.

The application, called Viz.ai, is used by the stroke response team at Tenet Health Central Coast Centers.

The application uses artificial intelligence to send an instant chat to the stroke response team, skipping five steps in the initial stroke response while the patient undergoes a CT scan.

Viz.ai uses advanced imaging technology to automatically analyze brain CT perfusion images. These images generate parametric color maps, calculate CT perfusion parameters, and inform neurologists of their diagnosis.

“One day, while out shopping, a neurologist was alerted by phone that artificial intelligence had detected a blockage or blood clot in a large blood vessel in his patient, and immediately called an ER doctor to begin appropriate treatment. That patient,” said Martha Irthum, Stroke and Spine Coordinator, Tenet Health Central Coast Neuroscience.

Two of Tenet Health’s hospitals, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Templeton’s Twin Cities Community Hospital, are both equipped with new technology.