Minimally invasive cardiology procedures such as transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) continue to rise.1 At the same time, staffing shortages, burnout, and long patient wait times are straining clinics. These pressures highlight the need for more efficient, scalable workflow. AI in echocardiography is well-positioned to help.
The hidden burden of manual echo workflows
Despite advances in imaging, routine echocardiogram exams remain highly manual. A single exam can involve more than 200 clicks just for image acquisition and measurements.2 Sonographers spend significant time labeling views, measuring, and documenting, while cardiologists often finish report validation, interpretation, and final documentation after hours.
This process is not only time-consuming but also introduces inefficiencies and potential errors. Delayed reports can hold up diagnosis and treatment. Inconsistent measurements can lead to repeat exams or patient callbacks. Many practices face backlogs of two to three months, limiting appointment availability and increasing administrative load on already stretched staff.
AI in echocardiography
ViewPoint EchoPilotTM, a cloud-based, AI-enabled solution that automates the measurement and reporting process for echocardiograms, is designed to address these persistent workflow challenges. It gives cardiology practices the power to:
- Automate routine tasks by identifying views, labeling images, capturing measurements, and generating draft clinical statements.
- Reduce variability in measurements and interpretations, supporting more consistent reporting across patients and providers.
- Accelerate reporting by providing a complete draft report in seconds, which clinicians can then quickly refine, rather than build from scratch.
- Support accuracy through integration with professional guidelines (ASE, EACVI) and transparent calculations, giving clinicians full visibility into the data behind each finding.
Up to 50% faster end-to-end routine echo workflow
A recent time-and-motion study measured the impact of ViewPoint EchoPilot on routine, adult TTE workflow.
- Clicks for image acquisition and measurement were reduced by 65%, cutting scanning time nearly in half.2
- Reporting workflow dropped from 73 clicks to as few as 10 clicks because clinicians were able to review and refine AI-generated findings instead of starting from scratch.2
- End-to-end exam workflow went from 15 minutes and 270 clicks to 80 clicks and under 9 minutes – a 70% reduction in manual effort and a 46% improvement in overall exam time.2
Echo exam consistency that supports clinical confidence
Time savings are vital, but consistency is equally important. Manual measurements often vary between clinicians, with even small differences in labeling or dimensions affecting diagnostic conclusions or disrupting continuity in serial exams.
ViewPoint EchoPilot helps standardize reporting by generating reproducible measurements and clinical statements aligned with guidelines and prior findings. This reduces user-to-user variation and ensures a uniform approach, supporting reliable longitudinal care when tracking disease progression or treatment response.
Clinical oversight remains central
For practices evaluating AI in echocardiography, trust is critical. With ViewPoint EchoPilot, physicians remain in control: AI generates draft measurements and statements, but clinicians decide what to keep, edit, or remove before finalizing reports.
The system is trained on large, diverse datasets and has FDA clearance and CE marking, validations that reflect safety, accuracy, and clinical relevance. AI does not replace clinical judgment; it eliminates repetitive tasks so clinicians can focus on interpreting results and guiding patient care.
Turning efficiency into practice growth
AI in echocardiography workflows deliver benefits that extend beyond time savings. By automating measurements, reducing manual input, and enabling near real-time reporting, it gives you time back. For private practices, these efficiencies can create meaningful improvements in both patient care and operational performance.
Consider a practice with three cardiologists: by using AI to support routine exams, it could collectively reclaim up to 13 hours each week2. That added capacity could translate into seeing more patients, reducing waitlists, or staff simply leaving the office on time.
Your echocardiogram experience should be faster – and it can be
Cardiology should be about patient care, not extra clicks and administrative burden. With ViewPoint EchoPilot, practices can reclaim time, improve consistency, and expand capacity without adding staff.
REFERENCES:
- “U.S. Cardiology Market Size to Worth USD 36.66 Billion by 2034,” Statifacts, last modified September 29, 2025, https://www.statifacts.com/outlook/us-cardiology-market.
- Based on a single internal, side-by-side comparison study performed by GE HealthCare. Three certified sonographers completed a routine adult transthoracic echocardiogram on the Vivid E95 system using two distinct workflows: a traditional manual and an automated workflow using ViewPoint EchoPilot. In the manual workflow, sonographers manually acquired images and performed measurements, followed by report generation in ViewPoint 6. No automation capabilities available on the scanner were utilized during this process to ensure a true baseline comparison. All final reports produced through the automated workflow still would require final clinical interpretation and validation by a qualified physician. Consistent number of images, measurements, and exam details across both workflows were performed. Live scanning was conducted on external scan subjects, including both male and female participants aged 45–60 years, with no significant health conditions. A total of 18 data sets were collected—9 per protocol—including both scan data and completed reports. The average time saved for the end-to-end workflow by utilizing automated workflow with ViewPoint EchoPilot was 6 minutes 50 seconds per exam. Assuming 8 exams performed by a clinician per day. Assuming a staff of 3 FTE employees each performing 8 exams a day. Illustrative example. Actual results will vary based on patient’s case complexity, experience of a performing clinician and your institution’s circumstances. DOC3182533
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