The evolution of RATE: early detection with AI and predictive analytics to save lives

Originally published in FORUM Series Innovation in Action: Advancing Government Health with Philips

Initially operationalized through the Department of Defense (DoD) under a Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)-sponsored program (2018–2019), RATE was designed to predict hospital-acquired infections. However, it quickly became an essential tool in combating the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, which severely impacted both military and civilian populations in early 2020.

In a multi-year study involving active military personnel across multiple US sites, participants wore devices from Garmin and Oura, generating an astounding 201 million hours of data. This data was analyzed to determine whether vital signs could predict the onset of COVID-19 before symptoms appeared. The study revealed that wearables, combined with physiological monitoring and machine learning, could predict COVID-19 infections an average of 48 hours before symptoms emerged. These groundbreaking findings paved the way for new and more comprehensive applications of RATE in detecting serious illnesses.

Dr. Andrew Omidvar, Head of Government Research and Development at Philips, has been a driving force behind the success of the RATE program. He and the broader Philips R&D team are pioneering its use to detect illnesses across diverse populations, offering critical insights that can:

Dr. Omidvar highlights the system’s potential with a practical example: “Imagine monitoring frontline nurses in a hospital who are more susceptible to infections. With wearable devices, you can collect and analyze their data to monitor their health. Now, scale that to all maternity nurses across 10 hospitals. The possibilities are immense.”

As wearable technology continues to advance, so do the opportunities for RATE to make an impact across industries beyond its defense origins. Modern wearables now capture a wealth of data with greater accuracy, including metrics like heart rate, sleep stages and more. With widespread adoption, the ability to track health patterns and predict serious illnesses becomes increasingly feasible.

Dr. Omidvar envisions RATE playing a pivotal role in reducing infections in shared spaces. He explains: “Take the cruise line industry, for example. Early detection could allow for swift action, like airlifting an infected individual off the ship to prevent further spread. Similarly, in airline travel, where passengers are confined to closed spaces, early detection could mitigate the risk of widespread infection. This is especially critical as diseases become more resistant to antibiotics and increasingly infectious.”

He also sees RATE adapting to new forms of medical care, such as supporting America’s aging population through remote health monitoring. “When I say remote, people often think of phone calls, but it’s much more than that. It’s about living your life while your health is continuously monitored in the background. If something happens, we’ll know. Remote health, telehealth, virtual health – all of these become more achievable with continuous monitoring, providing insights that a single doctor’s visit simply can’t.”

Dr. Omidvar’s passion for RATE’s potential is evident, and he remains focused on its larger mission: improving healthcare quality while reducing costs for providers and patients, and expanding access to care. He emphasizes the transformative power of data, saying, “If you can remotely monitor vital signs, lower costs and identify who’s getting sick before it becomes critical, you reduce emergency room visits. RATE is like the rising tide that lifts all boats.”