#United States #patient monitoring #St. Louis #Mercy #AI Program

Mercy Health Expands AI-Driven Patient Monitoring Program

Mercy Health, a prominent U.S. healthcare system, has recently announced a significant advancement in its patient care methodologies. The organization has been awarded a four-year funding grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) as part of its Health Systems Implementation Initiative (HSII). This funding will allow Mercy to broaden access to its AI-driven electronic patient-reported monitoring platform, specifically designed for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The initiative will not only extend the program to patients aged 18 and over but will also enhance the existing Chen Chemotherapy Model. This award-winning model will expand its focus from merely managing symptoms to also encompassing three additional domains crucial for patient health: physical function, behavioral health, and health-related social needs. In response to the challenges some patients face in engaging with text messages, Mercy plans to incorporate automated phone systems and MyMercy messages as alternative communication methods.

Dr. Jay Carlson, the oncology medical director at Mercy and a key figure in this project, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, "I know Mercy's cancer patients will be thrilled to learn of the program expansion, though it will take time to build. There are many behind-the-scenes technology builds that we will need to complete before we can implement this exciting expansion."

This advancement is based on findings from a previous PCORI-funded study that showed electronic patient-reported outcome surveys could significantly improve symptom management, physical function, and overall health-related quality of life for patients compared to conventional care practices. The expanded program is slated to be operational by October 2026.

JoAnne Levy, vice president of Mercy Research, highlighted the significance of the funding in accelerating the implementation of innovative patient care solutions said, "With this funding award, Mercy is able to bring innovation to the patients we serve much more quickly than through traditional methods for implementing research findings. We continue to build on the success of each PCORI project implementation and look forward to continuing to deliver even more value to Mercy patients in the future."

In terms of leadership, the project will be spearheaded by co-principal investigators Ursula Wright, Mercy's chief clinical excellence officer, and Dr. John Mohart, the chief operating officer of Mercy. The expansion follows another initiative funded by PCORI for launching the Mercy Intensive Lifestyle Treatment for Weight Loss program, which is scheduled for rollout in January 2026.

Mercy's involvement with PCORI began in February 2023, showcasing its commitment to integrating evidence-based practices derived from patient-centered clinical effectiveness research. The HSII, which involves 42 participating health systems, aims to bridge the substantial gap—estimated at 17 years—between evidence generation and its practical application in clinical settings. This initiative acknowledges the importance of healthcare systems' real-world experiences and insights in successfully implementing research-backed practices that can significantly change patient care.

The PCORI is a renowned independent, nonprofit organization established by Congress, dedicated to funding comparative effectiveness research that focuses on patient-centered outcomes. Its mission is to empower patients, caregivers, and clinicians with the timely and reliable evidence they need to make informed healthcare decisions.

The funding approval is pending completion of PCORI's business and programmatic review, after which the formal contract for the award will be issued. Mercy Health stands as one of the 15 largest healthcare systems in the United States, renowned for providing exceptional patient experiences and recognized for managing one of the largest and most effective Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost metrics. Every year, Mercy serves millions of patients through its comprehensive network comprising 50 acute care and specialty hospitals spread across multiple states and various outpatient services. Moreover, Mercy is deeply committed to community welfare, having provided over half a billion dollars in free care and community benefits during the fiscal year 2023.