the staff of the Ridgewood blog
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — July 8, 2025 — In a major win for both healthcare innovation and patient outcomes, Saint Peter’s University Hospital has successfully reduced emergency department (ED) visits by 7.1% among high-risk patients, thanks to its partnership with Lightbeam Health Solutions, a leading provider of AI-powered population health management solutions.
The initiative brought ED visits down from 16.7% to 9.5%, showcasing the impact of AI in streamlining care coordination and addressing social determinants of health (SDOH).
🚑 How AI Helped Reduce Avoidable ER Visits
The hospital used Lightbeam AI’s SDOH Individual Solution, a predictive model that identifies patients most at risk of avoidable emergency department utilization within 90 days. Rather than relying on expensive clinical integrations, the system uses social vulnerability data to guide proactive care—making it a cost-effective tool for value-based care.
“Lightbeam AI helped us identify patients with food and transportation needs,” said Ishani Ved, Director of Transformational Population Health and Outcomes at Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. “That allowed our team to efficiently refer patients to existing support programs—boosting the impact of our community health initiatives.”
🌍 Why Social Determinants Matter
Social determinants like food insecurity, housing instability, and lack of transportation account for 80% of health outcomes, making them critical targets for any care improvement strategy. Lightbeam’s AI flagged these vulnerabilities and enabled early intervention, helping care managers prioritize resources and prevent unnecessary hospital visits.
💡 Value-Based Care Meets Cutting-Edge Tech
“This collaboration highlights the power of AI to transform population health,” said Pat Cline, CEO of Lightbeam. “By automating care interventions and identifying at-risk patients early, we’re closing care gaps and enhancing patient satisfaction while cutting costs.”
The success of the project aligns with the hospital’s value-based care performance objectives, positioning it as a model for other healthcare systems looking to integrate predictive analytics and SDOH data into their strategies.
🏥 About Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Located in New Brunswick, NJ, Saint Peter’s University Hospital is a 478-bed nonprofit acute care teaching hospital, part of the Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. The hospital continues to innovate through strategic partnerships, grant-funded programs, and cutting-edge technology to serve a predominantly vulnerable patient population.
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