How AI and connected devices are transforming heart health for members
This American Heart Month, we’re taking a moment to dive into what’s happening in the world of cardiovascular care by highlighting our partnership with Hello Heart. Read on for a closer look!
The way we manage heart health is undergoing a powerful revolution. It’s moving beyond the four walls of the doctor’s office and into our homes, workplaces, and daily routines.
This shift is powered by the rise of the "smart heart" — a new approach where connected devices and artificial intelligence (AI) work together to empower members and inform care teams like never before.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and carries a massive economic weight, costing the nation nearly $418 billion annually. For too long, managing heart health has been episodic. You visit the doctor, get your blood pressure checked, and receive advice to follow until your next appointment months later. But what happens in between?
Now, a few key forces are reshaping this outdated model. About 35% of U.S. adults use wearable health devices, showing a clear appetite for connected monitoring. At the same time, AI has matured, allowing us to find meaningful patterns in the data these devices collect.
In the face of these challenges and opportunities, health plans are not only tasked with supporting heart health digitally, but doing so in a way that’s integrated, scalable, and truly effective.
Redefining cardiovascular care
Integration across the care ecosystem
Whole-person heart health in practice
Why health plans should be paying attention
From clinic to home: Redefining cardiovascular care
Traditional heart care relies on infrequent, siloed measurements that often miss early warning signs.
Connected devices change the equation by delivering continuous, real-world data through smart blood pressure cuffs and wearables, empowering members to take a more active role in their health.
Programs like Hello Heart have shown how clinically validated, user-friendly tools and devices can drive engagement and sustained changes in behavior. But devices alone aren’t enough. The magic happens when this data is paired with meaningful guidance and ongoing clinical oversight, turning insights into better outcomes.
The role of AI: Turning raw data into actionable heart health
The sheer volume of data from connected devices can be overwhelming for traditional care teams. AI has the power to sift through data to provide intelligent insights, enabling:
- Pattern recognition: Spot trends, like increasing blood pressure, that might signal a rising risk long before a person feels any symptoms.
- Personalized nudging: Based on data, an AI-powered system can send personalized reminders and tips to help stay on track.
- Smarter interventions: By identifying who is most at risk, AI helps clinical teams prioritize their outreach.
This is the essence of the "smart heart,” providing a member experience where data continuously informs care, rather than just triggering alerts. For example, Hello Heart's AI-powered assistant, Nia, can offer trusted answers to common questions, making daily management easier. When governed by clinical expertise, AI turns data into a powerful tool for proactive health.
The missing link: Integration across the care ecosystem
Heart health doesn't exist in a vacuum. It has strong ties to primary care, behavioral health, and care for other chronic conditions. A truly effective, whole-person care approach must connect care across the entire ecosystem. This is where a unified platform like Amwell’s becomes the crucial link.
By embedding solutions like Hello Heart into a broader longitudinal care platform, we can create a single, seamless experience. It allows data and insights to flow between a member’s digital front door, their virtual care team, and their primary care physician. For health plans, this integration is what unlocks the true return on investment, moving beyond disconnected point solutions to a cohesive strategy.
“Cardiovascular health is not best managed with isolated touchpoints, but rather when data, coaching, and clinical care work as one. Through Hello Heart’s integration with the Amwell platform, we can turn everyday signals like blood pressure trends into timely, coordinated action across the care team so members feel supported between visits, not just during them,” says Dr. Edo Paz, SVP of Medical Affairs, Hello Heart.
Whole-person heart health in practice
What does this integrated model look like for those receiving and delivering care?
Aligned experiences for everyone involved:
- Members get continuous support for all their health needs in one place.
- Clinicians have a more complete view of members’ health, inputs, and interactions with tools, enabling them to intervene more effectively.
- Care managers can use their time and resources more strategically, focusing interventions on the highest-risk populations.
By bringing programs like Hello Heart on to the Amwell Platform, we support both chronic and preventive care, fostering sustainable member engagement and ensuring clinical resources are being used in the smartest way possible.
Why health plans should be paying attention to a unified future
Rising cardiovascular risk and growing member expectations make integrated, digital first support essential. A unified, AI-enabled ecosystem gives health plans a strategic edge — delivering proactive, personalized care while improving efficiency and outcomes.
When advanced devices, programs, and data work together, heart health becomes smarter, more coordinated, and scalable for every member.
Amwell integrates experience, workflows, data, and clinical services. Learn how unified digital care and platform-based partnerships are shaping the future of whole-person cardiovascular care by reaching out to an Amwell team member today!