{
  "id": 17777477,
  "title": "Non-experts with AI guidance and off-site review perform quality mobile rural heart scans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/non-experts-with-ai-guidance-and-off-site-review-perform-quality",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-11-02T10:00:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-experts-ai-guidance-site-quality.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study presented at the American Heart Association's 2026 Scientific Sessions suggests that non-expert healthcare professionals can capture high-quality heart scans in rural communities with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and off-site expert review. This innovative approach could improve access to heart imaging for people living in rural areas. Echocardiography, or ultrasound imaging of the heart, can detect various heart conditions by providing live, moving images of the heart's structure and function. The study, part of the RURAL (Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal) study, involved non-sonographer healthcare staff, such as nurses and CT technologists, performing AI-guided echocardiography using real-time AI guidance and a rigorous quality-control system in a mobile examination unit. The results showed that over 98% of the scans were adequate for measurement on remote expert review, with an average scan time of 9.5 minutes. Dr. Sanjana Ravi, the study's author, emphasized the rapid and efficient adaptation of non-experts to this technology, enabling them to produce quality images for further review by experts. The study's principal investigator, Dr. Gerald S. Bloomfield, noted that this hybrid model brings heart imaging to local communities, addressing the limitations faced by rural populations in accessing critical diagnostic testing and specialty care. However, the study's findings may not be generalizable to non-rural populations and AI-guided echocardiograms obtained outside of a core lab-supported research setting.",
  "summary": "Artificial intelligence (AI) helped health professionals with no ultrasound experience capture quality heart scans in rural communities for review by off-site experts, according to new, independent preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting takes place Nov. 6–9 in Chicago.",
  "key_points": [
    "Non-experts use AI guidance for echocardiography in rural areas.",
    "Over 98% of scans adequate for remote expert review.",
    "Hybrid model brings heart imaging to local communities."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}