Considerations for the Adoption of Digital Algorithms and Cardiovascular Decision-Support Tools in Clinical Practice

Early detection of cardiovascular disease and implementation of evidence-based treatments can reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Medical algorithms and decision-making tools provide a compelling option for screening, risk prediction, and treatment management. Such digital tools have the potential to aid both healthcare professionals and patients, providing support to decrease unwarranted diagnostic and treatment variability while guiding personalized care, with the overall objective of improving clinical outcomes. However, incorporating digital tools in healthcare settings is challenging, and evidence the required to support their adoption and understand the limitations can be lacking. A multinational panel of expert cardiologists and emergency physicians across North America, Europe, and Oceania gathered to deliberate on the current landscape of digital tools and medical algorithms, drawing on prior clinical experiences and knowledge of country-specific regulations. In this viewpoint, the evidence to support and guide the adoption of digital tools in cardiovascular clinical practice and the necessary components for successful integration into clinical workflows were discussed. Digital tools must be developed with the needs of the healthcare professionals, other relevant stakeholders (eg, administration personnel), and patients in mind to give them the best chance of widespread adoption. Academia, industry, and regulatory bodies should work together to cultivate and accelerate the implementation of digital tools in healthcare. The considerations discussed here may help decision makers to determine if a digital tool has the components necessary to integrate into the clinical workflow successfully.