Artificial intelligence has the power to improve patients’ cognitive assessment scores and promote independence at home. That’s according to VitalCaring, a home health and hospice provider that recently generated positive outcomes by using AI to help patients with cognitive disorders.
During a pilot program, VitalCaring used Constant Therapy, a digital speech, language and cognitive therapy platform, to treat patients in their homes. Constant Therapy used AI to deliver personalized therapy services tailored to unique needs of patients, including those who were recovering from a stroke or brain injury, or who had dementia.
More than half of participating VitalCaring patients experienced improved cognitive function following the program. And 35% of patients achieved a normal cognitive function rating at the time of discharge. Constant Therapy also generated increases of more than 33% in patients’ Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores and St. Louis University Mental Status scores, which was associated with improvements in patients’ motor skills, speech skills and memory, VitalCaring noted.
“This program was tailored to fast-track our patients’ journey to regain independence safely in their homes,” Janice Riggins, VitalCaring’s chief clinical officer, said Thursday in a statement. “Adding innovative tools to our care plans extends the exceptional work of our therapists.”
The program lasted from October 2023 through May 2024, and included 52 patients whose ages ranged from 54 to 92. These patients’ primary diagnoses included cerebral infarction, brain tumors, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, encephalitis, encephalopathy, and mild cognitive impairment, according to VitalCaring.
VitalCaring is looking to expand the initiative across its care network due to the success it had during the seven-month pilot, the provider also noted.
AI adoption is increasing across the care at home sector. Some providers have noted using AI to make data entry and scheduling more efficient, or to improve phone call communications with both staff and clients. New research suggests that while patients are generally supportive of AI in healthcare, seniors are among the least confident users of the new technology.
