Third party
Stroke care in Wales is set to be transformed with the nation-wide rollout of pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Brainomix 360 Stroke is an AI-powered platform that assists doctors by providing real-time analysis of brain scans.
This technology aims to improve treatment decisions and patient transfers, helping more patients receive timely and appropriate care.
Wales is the first UK nation to implement Brainomix 360 on a national basis, with the platform now live. Already, clinicians are starting to see improvement in the rates of thrombolysis (a ‘clot-busting’ drug), and thrombectomy (the surgical removal of a blood clot from an artery).
About the project
Prior to October 2023, when Brainomix 360 started to be rolled out, the thrombectomy rate was 1.8% across Wales, with various pinch points within the clinical pathway. The rate has now risen to 2.6% nationally, and individual sites that went live early are hitting 7% thrombectomy rates and over 20% thrombolysis rates.
Clinicians anticipate that Brainomix 360 will further enhance and smooth out the pathway, which in turn will lead to an increase in the number of eligible patients receiving these treatments.
Dr Shakeel Ahmad, National Clinical Lead for Stroke said:
“The Brainomix 360 Stroke platform is a game-changer in stroke care. By harnessing the power of AI, it provides an extremely valuable tool that enhances the skill and expertise of clinicians to diagnose and treat stroke patients rapidly and effectively.
“Stroke is a medical emergency and time is of the essence in making a diagnosis and deciding what treatment is best for each individual patient.
“Brainomix 360 quickly generates critical information from simple brain scans and provides a secure platform for clinicians to share information, images and analysis.“This enables us to make faster, more precise decisions, which in turn will improve the quality of care and outcomes for stroke patients wherever they live in Wales.”
Patient story
Earlier this year, Nisha Patel, a new mum and pharmacist suddenly lost sensation in her arm, and ability to speak while putting her son to sleep. Unable to comfort her son, or use her phone, she was rushed to hospital where doctors diagnosed her with a stroke. Shocked by the diagnosis, Nisha’s first concern was how this would affect her ability to care for her nine-month-old son.
Thanks to this new AI technology being used in Welsh hospitals, doctors quickly analysed her brain scans and restored her speech and mobility within hours. The AI helps doctors decide whether to perform a thrombectomy to remove blood clots, or administer clot-busting drugs.
Not all patients are eligible for these treatments, with around one in five eligible for thrombolysis and around one in ten for thrombectomy. However, Nisha received the right care in time, allowing her to return to her normal life and resume her role as a mother.
To find out more about Nisha’s story, watch the video here.
Project impact
Dr Tom Hughes, Consultant Neurologist in University Hospital Wales
“The introduction of Brainomix to stroke units in Wales is a very important step forward in the management of patients who have had a stroke as a result of a large artery in the brain becoming blocked by a blood clot.
“As a clinician, I’ve been very impressed by the speed at which it interprets images of the brain and of the arteries providing its blood supply, and by the quality of the images we see on our computers or our mobile phones.
“All stroke physicians in Wales should learn how best to use Brainomix 360 so that they become familiar with the range of functions the software has to offer, and the particular clinical situations in which it is most likely to provide the useful information which will help us treat stroke patients quickly.
“It’s already supported our stroke team in Cardiff by accelerating their clinical decision making to deliver emergency stroke treatments including thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy.
“I look forward to Brainomix 360 becoming a tool we use routinely in clinical practice.”
Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
“Time is critical in stroke care, so I’m delighted to see this new technology go live which helps clinicians evaluate the severity of strokes and quickly identify appropriate treatments.
“This is one of a number of exciting digital innovations being adopted in Wales to improve stroke care and will significantly improve the thrombectomy rate and outcomes for stroke patients.
“I would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment and passion in getting this AI stroke imaging rolled out across Wales."
Riaz Rahman, Director, EMEA, Brainomix
“Brainomix are delighted to have been awarded this opportunity to deploy our award-winning Brainomix 360 Stroke platform at a national level across NHS Wales, spanning fifteen stroke centres.
“We’ve collaborated closely with the national leadership team to understand their strategic requirements and provided a tailored solution that will transform the stroke clinical pathway for the estimated 7,400 stroke sufferers per annum by improving stroke diagnosis and facilitating faster treatment and transfer decisions.”
Fast diagnosis
With its advanced AI-driven imaging tools, Brainomix enable healthcare professionals to assess brain scans swiftly and accurately, speeding up treatment decisions.
Efficient workflow
The platform integrates seamlessly with hospital systems, streamlining workflows and reducing diagnosis and treatment times for stroke patients.
Personalised treatment
Brainomix also provides personalised treatment recommendations based on each patient’s unique medical profile.
Data-driven improvements
Data analytics capabilities offer insights intro stroke care trends and outcomes, helping professionals refine protocols.
Project outcomes
The National Stroke Programme Board worked with the NHS Wales Executive to procure Brainomix 360 for the NHS on a Wales-wide basis. The technology has already made a significant impact in healthcare facilities worldwide, with early adopters reporting reduced door-to-treatment times, improved patient outcomes, and increased operational efficiency.
Results from the largest prospective evaluation of stroke AI imaging, which involved more than 80,000 stroke patients across 26 hospitals in England, showed that the implementation of Brainomix 360 Stroke resulted in an additional 50% increase in the number of patients receiving mechanical thrombectomy.
To find out more about this project, visit the Brainomix website.
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