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Artificial Intelligence in Heart Care: How AI Can Improve Precision in Patient Outcomes
4 min. read
Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, and healthcare is no exception. While the current applications of AI in healthcare are rapidly evolving, its potential in heart care remains particularly exciting.
To explore the future of AI in cardiology, Tom C. Nguyen, M.D., FACS, FACC, chief medical executive and Barry T. Katzen Endowed Chair of Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, shares his insights on how AI will revolutionize patient care.
Dr. Nguyen’s primary interest lies in AI's potential of developing technologies to improve patient outcomes.
"I’m more excited about the development and innovation of AI technologies that could help patients in the future," said Dr. Nguyen, who is also the director of Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery at the Institute. “While the present use of AI in heart care often focuses on operational improvements, the future promises deeper, more meaningful impacts on patient diagnosis and treatment.”
Improving Precision in Patient Care
In terms of current tools, AI helps streamline patient management by automating tasks that are traditionally managed by humans, such as tracking patient times in the operating room or managing anesthetic and procedural schedules.
This level of precision and efficiency, Dr. Nguyen emphasizes, could significantly reduce human error, leading to faster and more accurate care. "AI can be incredibly precise and unbiased, picking up on small details that even experienced clinicians might miss," he explains.
One of the most compelling aspects of AI in heart care is its ability to detect patterns that humans cannot. For instance, Dr. Nguyen highlights a study in which AI learned to distinguish between retina scans from men and women -- with 90 percent accuracy, something ophthalmologists only managed 50 percent of the time. "The machines are learning from patterns and repetitions that we don’t even know to look for," he said.
This pattern recognition also extends to cardiovascular diagnostics. At the Mayo Clinic, studies have shown that an AI-driven electrocardiogram (EKG) can predict conditions such as obesity and heart dysfunction based on subtle changes in heart activity that may not be visible to the human eye. "It’s picking up on things that our eyes are not realizing, with the potential to transform patient care in profound ways," said Dr. Nguyen.
The “Black Box” of Cardiac Care
One AI-driven innovation that particularly excites Dr. Nguyen is what he calls the "Black Box" for heart surgery — mirroring the black box technology used in aviation. Just as black boxes record every detail during flights, AI can track and log every step in the operating room, from the exact time a patient enters the operating suite to how long it takes to administer anesthesia. Currently, many of these tasks are done manually by nurses, who log data that might not always be precise.
By automating these processes, AI can provide reports that offer precise data on every aspect of a procedure, allowing for more efficient patient management and surgical scheduling. "It sounds basic, but this is a big step forward. AI is more accurate and eliminates the possibility of human error, which accumulates over time," said Dr. Nguyen.
Enhancing, Not Replacing, Human Care
While AI has the potential to change the landscape of heart care, Dr. Nguyen is quick to emphasize that it will complement — not replace — human doctors.
"Anything that requires precision and consistency, we can rely on computers for," he notes. However, he also stresses that human intuition and experience will always be vital to medicine, with AI serving as an aid to enhance decision-making and improve patient outcomes.

Tom C. Nguyen, M.D., FACS, FACC, chief medical executive and Barry T. Katzen Endowed Chair of Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.
In terms of future developments, Dr. Nguyen envisions AI playing a pivotal role in diagnosing and treating complex heart conditions by analyzing thousands of inputs that the human brain might overlook. "We are moving towards a future where AI will be able to diagnose rare conditions, optimize treatment plans, and even predict outcomes for patients — all in real-time," he said.
Dr. Nguyen’s insights highlight a future where AI’s role in heart care extends far beyond administrative tasks. From precise diagnostics to streamlined surgeries, AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we care for cardiovascular patients. Though we are just beginning to scratch the surface of what AI can do, the possibilities are vast, and Dr. Nguyen is optimistic about the future.
As AI continues to evolve, so too will its applications in heart care — ensuring that patients receive faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments, all while improving efficiency and reducing human error.
"AI’s potential is transformative,” he said. “” It has the power to change patient care in ways we are only beginning to understand."
Do You Know Your Coronary Calcium Score? As part of Heart Month this February, many Baptist Health diagnostic imaging locations will be participating in our heart scan promotion. You may be eligible for a CT calcium scoring if you are 40-75 years old and meet certain cardiac risk factors. To learn more and request an appointment visit BaptistHealth.net/HeartScan.
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