PHOENIX (Sept. 29, 2020) – Banner Health has partnered with Viz.ai to bring the first FDA-cleared computer-aided triage system to the Phoenix-metro area. This new technology will help facilitate early access to the most advanced stroke care for Banner Health’s patients across the state, including machine-learning rapid analysis of suspected large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes, which account for approximately one in four acute ischemic strokes.

Having developed the first Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center in Arizona, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, part of the Banner Health network, continues its commitment to leverage advanced innovations to improve access to the most optimal treatments for patients who are suffering an acute stroke. Viz.ai solutions will allow Banner Health to further enhance the power of its stroke care teams through rapid detection and notification of suspected LVO strokes. The technology also allows Banner’s stroke specialists to securely communicate to synchronize care and determine the optimal patient treatment decision, potentially saving critical minutes, even hours, in the triage, diagnosis, and treatment of strokes.

"Treating a patient suffering from a stroke requires quick and decisive action. Just 15 minutes can make a difference in saving someone’s life," said Jeremy Payne, MD, PhD, director of the Stroke Center at Banner – University Medicine Neuroscience Institute. "Viz.ai's solutions will truly transform the way that we deliver stroke care to our community, which we believe will result in improved outcomes for our patients."

This applied artificial intelligence-based technology is being deployed throughout the Banner Health network including at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, Banner Del E Webb Medical Center in Sun City West, and Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa.  Within the next few months, it is expected to be used as an early-warning system for strokes throughout the entire network of Banner hospitals in Arizona.

"With this technology our stroke specialists can be automatically notified of potential large strokes within minutes of imaging completion, and the computerized platform often recognizes the stroke before the patient has left the CT scanner," Payne added. "We can immediately access the specialized imaging results on our phones, and then communicate with the Emergency Department physician in a matter of minutes. This dramatically accelerates our ability to initiate treatment."

Combining groundbreaking applied artificial intelligence with seamless communication, Viz.ai's image analysis facilitates the fast and accurate triage of suspected LVOs in stroke patients and better collaboration between clinicians at comprehensive and referral hospitals. Viz.ai synchronizes care across the whole care team, enabling a new era of "Synchronized Care," where the right patient gets to the right doctor at the right time.

"We are excited to bring our technology to Banner Health," said Dr. Chris Mansi, co-founder and CEO of Viz.ai. "The exceptional care provided by the Banner Health stroke network will be enhanced by our cutting-edge applied artificial intelligence platform which will enable faster coordination of care for the sickest patients and improve access to life-saving therapy through the community they serve."

To learn more about Banner Health’s stroke program, visit bannerhealth.com/stroke.

About Stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of permanent disability, death and healthcare costs globally. According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of disability. When a stroke occurs, and the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a portion of the brain is blocked, approximately two million brain cells die every minute; in the case of stroke, "Time is Brain."

About Banner Health

As one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country, the team at Banner Health is committed to ensuring all Banner locations are a safe place for care. Headquartered in Phoenix, Banner Health owns and operates 28 acute-care hospitals and an array of other services, including: Banner Imaging, Banner Telehealth and Banner Urgent Care. Team members are dedicated to protecting the health and safety of patients, be it a routine checkup, elective surgery or an urgent health service. Waiting room and employee workstation layouts maintain proper social distancing; screenings are conducted at hospital entrances to verify that all employees and visitors are well; and, all Banner physicians are equipped to visit patients remotely. Learn more about Banner's commitment to safety at bannerhealth.com/safecare.

About Viz.ai, Inc.

Viz.ai, is the leader in applied artificial intelligence in healthcare. Viz.ai’s mission is to fundamentally improve how healthcare is delivered in the world, through intelligent software that promises to reduce time to treatment and improve access to care. Viz.ai’s flagship product, Viz LVO, leverages advanced deep learning to communicate time-sensitive information about stroke patients straight to a specialist who can intervene and treat.

In February 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a De Novo clearance for Viz LVO, the first-ever computer-aided triage and notification software. Viz.ai announced its second FDA clearance for Viz CTP through the 510(k) pathway, offering healthcare providers an important tool for automated cerebral perfusion image analysis.

Viz.ai is located in San Francisco and Tel Aviv and backed by leading Silicon Valley investors, including Kleiner Perkins, Google Ventures, Greenoaks, CRV, and Threshold.