US-based healthcare organisation Geisinger has begun using a patient management solution intended to help detect and handle patients with incidental lung abnormalities and those eligible for lung cancer screening.

According to a company statement, incidental abnormalities are discovered in about 40% of unrelated imaging tests across the US.

To address this, Geisinger introduced the STAIR programme in 2020, which helps manage these patients with incidental lung abnormalities.

To streamline this process, the company has partnered with Eon, a health data science company focused on improving patient care.

The new patient management system was developed in collaboration with Eon and automatically enrols patients with incidental findings in the STAIR programme.

Eon's AI-driven workflow tracks patients' progress and alerts the care team, who can then provide timely follow-up care.

Eon director of implementation Nathan Boehlke said: “Tracking patients behind the scenes, automating workflows and removing busywork not only enables the care team to manage and bring back significantly more patients, but also frees them up to spend more time on direct patient care.”

STAIR programme director Dr Yatin Mehta said: “The mission of the STAIR programme is to ensure that all patients with important radiology findings get the care they need at the time they need it — the first time, every time.

“The STAIR programme and lung cancer screening programme are two important ways that we can catch cancer earlier when the patient has a chance to be cured.

“We’re excited to work with Eon on innovation that’s making a difference by allowing our staff to manage more patients more efficiently — and ultimately saving lives with earlier intervention.”

Geisinger currently has ten hospital campuses, a health plan with more than 500,000 members, a research institute and a health sciences college.

The company employs more than 25,000 colleagues and more than 1,700 physicians.