Use of Telemedicine with An Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Stethoscope to Support Decision-Making and Reduce Inappropriate Use of Echocardiography in Children with Heart Murmurs

Background/Purpose: A pathologic murmur may be the first sign of heart disease in children and is an appropriate indication for echocardiography, while an innocent murmur is not. However, stethoscope skills are in decline among primary providers making distinction of innocent from pathologic murmurs increasingly difficult. This may lead to over-referral to the cardiologist and overuse of echocardiography, resulting in unnecessary emotional and financial burdens on families. The use of telemedicine and an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled electronic stethoscope may aid decision-making regarding referral of children with …