Dignity Health Dominican Hospital now offers a new non-invasive diagnostic option for individuals with suspected heart disease.
HeartFlow Analysis uses CT images along with CT-derived fractional flow reserve to helps diagnose coronary artery disease. Analysts use AI algorithms create a detailed anatomical model of the patient’s heart, enabling physicians to visualize blood flow and detect stenosis, or plaque obstructing the coronary arteries.
Charnjeet Sandu
HeartFlow Plaque Analysis is the only FDA cleared AI-enabled plaque quantification tool validated in a prospective international trial against the gold standard of invasive imaging, with a reported 95% agreement.
The SCOT-HEART trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2018, randomized 4,146 patients between standard care and coronary computed tomography angiography. The latter reduced the death from coronary heart disease or nonfatal myocardial infarction by 41% at 5 years compared to standard care.
Heart Flow reports 1,400 institutions use the tool for more than 400,000 patients.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States, with coronary artery disease being the most common type, affecting nearly half of the adult population.
This occurs when arteries supplying blood to the heart narrow or become blocked, reducing blood flow to the organ. This can lead to chest pain, heart attacks and even death.
Accurately identifying the location and extent of artery blockages is crucial for developing an effective treatment plan and determining whether intervention is needed.
“This new tool revolutionizes the approach to heart care by providing critical information that can help us determine the best treatment plan for each patient through a convenient, non-invasive platform,” said Dr. Charnjeet Sandu, interventional cardiologist, Dominican Hospital. “This innovation underscores Dignity Health’s commitment to prioritizing patients by investing in advanced technologies that enhance care, improve outcomes, and ensure overall well-being.”
This tool enables a more accurate, non-invasive diagnosis, significantly reducing false negatives and positives compared to traditional testing for coronary artery disease, according to Dominican Hospital, which pointed out it cuts invasive catheterization procedures by 75% and reduces the need for initial diagnostic tests.
Additionally, it is 75% more likely to identify patients who require intervention.
For 2025, Medicare boosted the payment rate for the Heart Flow analysis to $1,017 and the rate for the AI-enabled plaque analysis to $950.
In addition, Medicare doubled the rate for coronary computed tomography angiography, from $175 to $357.13, a change applauded by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, which said the new number reflects the value provided.
Founded as Cardiovascular Simulation in Mountain View in 2010, HeartFlow’s technology became commercially available in the U.S. in 2014.
The company has raised $757 from investors who expect an initial public offering this year.
Top competitors include Cleerly, Caristo Diagnostics, and MEDICAL IP, according to CB Insights.