Yale Endocrine Surgery has launched a new screening clinic for primary hyperaldosteronism, powered by ALDO-Alert (Automated Longitudinal Detection of Aldosteronism with Electronic Medical Record Triggering), an innovative clinical decision-support tool designed to improve detection and management of the condition.
The program uses electronic health record data to identify high-risk patients, prompt timely screening, and streamline referrals for targeted treatment. The initiative aims to accelerate diagnosis for patients who might otherwise go unrecognized by creating a coordinated pathway from detection to specialty follow-up.
The initiative was led by Courtney Gibson, MD, an associate professor at Yale School of Medicine (YSM), with support from a YSM Department of Surgery Mastery Award, which provides up to $5,000 to advance novel ideas that make measurable improvements in work processes.
“I've consulted on many patients who have suffered from poorly controlled hypertension for years before ultimately being diagnosed with primary aldosteronism. My hope is that this screening program will lead to earlier detection and treatment for this often curable disease process," says Gibson.
Primary hyperaldosteronism remains a significantly underdiagnosed cause of hypertension and is recognized as the most common cause of secondary hypertension in the United States. Delayed recognition and treatment can lead to serious downstream cardiovascular complications. ALDO-Alert helps close this gap by flagging patients whose underlying endocrine cause of hypertension might otherwise be missed, enabling earlier evaluation and intervention.
By accelerating screening and diagnosis, Gibson and colleagues hope to improve quality of life for patients while reducing serious cardiovascular complications associated with untreated disease. The effort reflects Yale’s broader commitment to using data-driven innovation to advance precision care and improve outcomes across surgical specialties.