A Utah health system says an artificial intelligence-assisted care program sharply reduced hospital stays for people with COPD and asthma, while giving respiratory specialists a much larger patient reach. In a two-year study involving more than 1,200 patients, researchers reported a 50.3% drop in hospital admissions, 20% fewer emergency department visits, and a 57% reduction in total care costs.
The results were highlighted by KSL.com in a BrandView report sponsored by Intermountain Health. The iCARE study covered five Intermountain hospitals in Utah, including facilities in Salt Lake City, Murray, Provo, Ogden and St. George, and its findings were presented at the American Thoracic Society’s 2026 International Conference in Orlando.
What The AI Watches Between Clinic Visits
According to Intermountain Health, the system collected readings from digital spirometers, pulse oximeters, sensor-equipped inhalers, lifestyle trackers and patient symptom checks. The data produced more than 11.5 million signals, which CareCentra’s platform compared with each patient’s baseline and established COPD and asthma care protocols.
The system was designed to spot trouble before it became an emergency, including falling FEV1 lung-function readings, lower oxygen saturation, missed medication doses and changes in breathing or sleep patterns. It could then send personalized reminders, warn patients about environmental triggers or escalate the case to a pulmonary disease navigator, a registered respiratory therapist who coordinates care with the broader medical team…