Key Points
- Inflo Health uses AI to scan radiology reports and flag incidental findings.
- The platform addresses a roughly 50% non‑adherence rate for follow‑up recommendations.
- AI handles 60%‑70% of straightforward follow‑up cases; complex cases go to human coordinators.
- Integration with hospital workflows sends automated texts and notifications to patients and providers.
- East Alabama Medical Center saw a 74% boost in completed follow‑ups after adopting the system.
- Inflo Health reports that 125,000 lives have been impacted to date.
- Detection of incidental findings has risen about 40%, increasing follow‑up demands.
- Co‑founders Angela Adams (nurse) and Nate Sutton (CTO) emphasize AI as a tool to empower clinicians.
Background and Motivation
Inflo Health was created after co‑founder Angela Adams, a critical‑care nurse, witnessed a tragic delay in care when a breast lesion discovered incidentally during an emergency CT scan was never communicated to the patient’s primary physician. The missed follow‑up eventually led to a delayed cancer diagnosis and the patient’s death. This experience highlighted a systemic problem: studies show that roughly 50% of radiology follow‑up recommendations are not adhered to, resulting in delayed diagnoses, legal risk, and higher health‑care costs.
How the Platform Works
Inflo Health employs natural language processing and large language models to automatically scan imaging reports—X‑rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds—and extract key findings. The system prioritizes recommendations by urgency, flagging high‑risk cases for immediate attention. Integrated with existing hospital workflow tools, the platform sends text messages and provider notifications to patients and clinicians, ensuring that follow‑up appointments are scheduled and completed.
Human‑In‑The‑Loop Approach
While AI automates the bulk of straightforward follow‑up scenarios—estimated at 60% to 70% of cases—more complex situations are escalated to human care coordinators. This hybrid model allows radiologists and clinicians to focus on nuanced cases while the AI handles routine communications, reducing the likelihood of information loss.
Impact and Outcomes
Early adopters have reported measurable improvements. East Alabama Medical Center increased its follow‑up completion rate by 74% after implementing Inflo Health. The company also cites a total of 125,000 lives impacted through its technology. Additionally, the rise in advanced imaging detection—about a 40% increase in incidental findings—has amplified the need for reliable follow‑up coordination, a need Inflo Health directly addresses.
Philosophy and Future Outlook
Inflo Health positions its AI as a tool to empower clinicians rather than replace them. By automating repetitive tasks, the platform aims to give health‑care professionals more time to focus on complex patient care, ultimately improving outcomes and efficiency across the health‑care system.
Source: cnet.com