Geisinger launches new study to better treat COPD patients

DANVILLE, Pa. – Geisinger has launched the Voice Analysis of COPD Patients with Exacerbations (VOICE) research study that aims to gain more information on a novel technique to detect flare-ups or exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients. The method being examined in the study is an algorithm for vocal biomarkers developed by Healthymize, a company that develops artificial intelligence-based voice analysis technology for diseases. This is an Investigator Sponsored Study supported by a grant from GSK.

COPD is a progressive lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. The two main forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema, both of which damage your airways and interfere with your ability to absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

COPD exacerbations or flare-ups are typically caused by an infection in the lung. The infection can cause inflammation and narrow the airway, possibly blocking it.

“If we detect changes in a patient’s health condition earlier, we can reduce hospitalization and administer care in a timely manner at home,” said Paul F. Simonelli, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the study and chair of the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Geisinger. “We know that early detection of exacerbation improves outcomes, and Healthymize has the potential to present an easy-to-use solution that monitors patients from home. Healthymize can start with COPD and then expand to other chronic care concerns, such as heart disease and mental health issues.”

The study is currently recruiting Geisinger COPD patients between the ages of 40 and 80 to participate. Patients must have a prior year history of COPD exacerbations including both bronchitis or pneumonia. 
Participating Geisinger patients will be required to perform daily voice recordings and questionnaires over the six-month participation period. Patients can enroll at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre or Geisinger Gray’s Woods in State College.

For additional information or to sign up as a participant of the VOICE study, call 570-214-5420.

About Healthymize
Healthymize is developing personalized, artificial intelligence (“AI”) based vocal biomarkers that turns smart devices into remote patient monitoring devices for voice-affecting diseases such as COPD, asthma, heart failure, neurological and mental health disorders. Voice-affecting diseases affect millions of patients in the U.S. alone. As voice becomes the norm of interaction with smart devices, Healthymize will leverage its presence on users’ devices to provide voice analytics for health. For more information, visit www.healthymize.com, or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.