St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) heart specialists are the first in the Lehigh Valley region to employ advanced artificial intelligence technology, combined with echocardiograms, to detect and monitor potentially serious heart conditions, like aortic stenosis, before symptoms appear in patients.

The Network’s Heart and Vascular Center has begun using the Egnite CardioCare AI digital health platform, which functions with the hospital’s electronic health record (EHR) and echocardiogram images to aid in the diagnosis of various heart issues in the early stages of development.

Echocardiography converts sound waves into images of the heart’s structure, size and function, including its valves and blood flow, to diagnose and monitor the heart’s health heart or presence of a cardiac disorder or disease.

St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular is an eight-time nationally ranked 50 Top Heart Hospital dedicated to delivering unmatched, patient-centered care.

Leading the region in heart and vascular care, St. Luke’s was first in the region to perform open heart surgery in 1983 and continues to be the first in the region to pioneer new and advanced surgeries to this day.

From the most complex cases to routine procedures, St. Luke’s embraces innovative technologies to deliver the highest-quality outcomes for all heart and vascular conditions.

The new CardioCare AI digital health platform helps navigate the vast amount of patient data in the EHR to find the right patients so they can be treated at the right time.

The system detects signs of aortic stenosis, at its early stages, which might otherwise go undetected and untreated.

Patients with advanced aortic stenosis may be candidates for TAVR, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement — a potentially lifesaving minimally invasive procedure.

The CardioCare AI platform analyzes all echocardiograms performed at St. Luke’s, in hopes of finding aortic stenosis, and other diagnoses, in even early stages so they can be addressed, monitored or treated in a timely manner.

Approximately 50,000 echocardiograms are performed annually at St. Luke’s.

Currently, while St. Luke’s is utilizing Egnite’s CardioCare technology to assist with the diagnosis of aortic stenosis and other valvular diseases, plans are underway to roll out this technology in electrophysiology (arrhythmia) and heart failure patients in the near future.

Stephen Olenchok, DO, St. Luke’s Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery, said, “As the region’s leader in heart care innovation, St. Luke’s Heart and Vascular Center is pioneering the adoption of the Egnite CardioCare AI platform to expand our clinical toolbox to improve our ability to diagnose, manage and treat a range of developing cardiac disorders in their early stages, with the ultimate goal of improving patients’ quality of life and long-term cardiac health.”

To learn more about St. Luke’s Cardiovascular services or find a doctor, visit https://www.slhn.org/heart-vascular.

To schedule an appointment call 1-866-STLUKES (785-8537), option 4.

Statewide Hospital Organization Recognizes St. Luke’s for Strengthening Patient Safety

St. Luke’s University Health Network has received a statewide award for a project using predictive analytics to reduce cardiac arrests.

St. Luke’s initiative was one of 12 recognized by The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) through its 2025 Achievement Awards. Started in 1978, the program recognizes hospitals and health systems that are taking innovative approaches to strengthening the safety and quality of care, enhancing operations and patients’ experience, and partnering with their communities to address public health needs.

St. Luke’s “Realtime Vital Signs and Epic’s Deterioration Index Reduces In-Hospital Cardiac Arrests” project was selected for the In Safe Hands Award. The project resulted in significant measurable gains in operational, quality and financial metrics.

St. Luke’s competed against organizations of a similar size for the award, which celebrates hospitals’ and health systems’ work to improve patient safety. In total, 108 entries received this year’s Achievement Awards.

“The 2025 HAP Achievement Award winners represent innovative, outstanding projects that are focused on patients,” HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings said. “Hospitals are the heart of Pennsylvania communities and work both within and outside their walls to strengthen health.”

St. Luke’s continues to hold the distinction of winning the most HAP Achievement Awards of any health system in the state, having won 25 awards since 2010.

Additional information about the awards program and detailed descriptions of the winning projects are available on the HAP website.