Tempus ECG-AF vs Steth IO

Similar category, different focus. These tools serve overlapping but distinct needs. Comparability 60/100 Comparability is an AI-graded 0–100 score of how directly these two tools compete — higher means a more apples-to-apples comparison.

Tempus ECG-AF

by Tempus AI, Inc.

Steth IO

by STRATOSCIENTIFIC

AI Verdict

Tempus ECG-AF is an AI-driven software solution designed to predict the risk of atrial fibrillation in older patients by analyzing existing 12-lead ECGs. In contrast, Steth IO is a smartphone-powered digital stethoscope that enables real-time auscultation, visualization, recording, and sharing of heart and lung sounds, with integrated telemedicine capabilities. While both tools aim to enhance cardiac care and diagnostics, Tempus focuses on predictive risk assessment from historical data, whereas Steth IO provides real-time diagnostic aid and remote monitoring through physical examination.

Choose Tempus ECG-AF if…

Choose Tempus ECG-AF if your primary objective is to proactively identify patients aged 65 or older at increased risk of developing new-onset atrial fibrillation within the next 12 months, leveraging existing 12-lead ECG recordings. This tool is ideal for integrating into routine screenings within cardiology, geriatrics, or internal medicine to support earlier identification and follow-up for at-risk individuals without a prior AF diagnosis.

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Choose Steth IO if…

Choose Steth IO if you need a portable, real-time diagnostic aid for auscultation that transforms a smartphone into a powerful stethoscope, enabling visualization, recording, and sharing of heart and lung sounds. This solution is particularly well-suited for enhancing diagnostic accuracy in telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and situations requiring immediate sharing of audio data with specialists for comprehensive patient care.

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Reviewed by Pouyan Golshani, MD — Interventional Radiologist

Quick Comparison

Feature	Tempus ECG-AF	Steth IO
Pricing	Contact vendor	Customized pricing; subscription-based for steth io spot.
Deployment	Software solution, integrated into healthcare facility systems with advanced cardiology algorithms.	Mobile app, Cloud-based system.
BAA Available	Yes AI-estimated	Unknown
FDA Status	Yes AI-estimated	Cleared AI-estimated
HIPAA	Yes AI-estimated	Unknown

Head-to-Head

AI-generated assessment across six dimensions based on each tool's documented features and compliance posture. Grounded in public data — not a substitute for hands-on evaluation.

Usability

Steth IO

Steth IO leverages the ubiquity and familiarity of smartphones, offering a highly portable and intuitive user experience for real-time auscultation and visualization. Its mobile app and hardware integration allow for immediate point-of-care diagnostics, making it readily accessible for healthcare providers.

Clinical Value

Tempus ECG-AF

Tempus ECG-AF offers a unique predictive capability for atrial fibrillation risk, enabling earlier identification and proactive follow-up for a serious cardiac condition. This FDA-cleared AI-driven insight, trained on over 1.5 million ECGs, provides a distinct clinical advantage by facilitating preventative care and potentially improving patient outcomes through timely intervention.

Pricing & Value

Tempus ECG-AF

Tempus ECG-AF provides a clear and established CMS reimbursement pathway with a defined Medicare rate of $128.90, effective January 1, 2025. This offers significant financial predictability and value for healthcare facilities, simplifying adoption and integration into existing billing structures.

Enterprise Readiness

Tempus ECG-AF

Tempus ECG-AF explicitly states HIPAA compliance and the availability of a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), alongside its design for integration into existing healthcare facility systems. This demonstrates a robust framework for enterprise deployment, minimizing compliance burdens for large organizations.

Innovation

Steth IO

Steth IO innovates by transforming a standard smartphone into a comprehensive diagnostic tool, integrating hardware, real-time visualization of heart and lung sounds, and telemedicine capabilities. This approach significantly enhances traditional auscultation and facilitates advanced remote patient monitoring, representing a broader innovation in diagnostic delivery.

Support & Docs

Tempus ECG-AF

Tempus ECG-AF provides a comprehensive 'Document Library' on its website, including requisition forms, specimen guidelines, and sample reports, alongside technical support contact information. This breadth of resources suggests a more robust and organized approach to supporting various stakeholders within an enterprise healthcare setting.

Feature-by-Feature

Detail beyond the Quick Comparison summary. For pricing, deployment, BAA, FDA, and HIPAA see the Overview tab.

Feature	Tempus ECG-AF	Steth IO
Company	Tempus AI, Inc.	STRATOSCIENTIFIC
Primary Function	AI-based algorithm analyzing 12-lead ECG recordings to identify patients aged 65 or older at increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) within the next 12 months.	Smartphone stethoscope that transforms a mobile device into a diagnostic aid for hearing, visualizing, recording, and sharing heart and lung sounds in real-time.
Target Use Case/Patient Group	Patients 65 years or older without pre-existing AF, pacemakers, ICDs, or recent cardiac surgery, for earlier identification and follow-up of AF risk.	Healthcare providers for enhancing diagnostic accuracy, facilitating advanced telemedicine and remote patient monitoring.
Core Technology/Methodology	AI-based algorithm for 12-lead ECG analysis, trained on over 1.5 million ECGs.	Smartphone-powered stethoscope hardware and app with real-time visualization of heart and lung sounds (phonocardiogram/spectrogram), digital filters, and telemedicine capabilities.
Supported Medical Specialties	Cardiology, Geriatrics, Internal Medicine	Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Pulmonology

Videos

Demos, reviews, and walkthroughs featuring Tempus ECG-AF and Steth IO.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do these tools integrate into a physician's existing clinical workflow and EHR for seamless data flow and patient management?

Tempus ECG-AF is a software solution integrated into healthcare facility systems, with Tempus employing EHR integrations to filter eligible patients, suggesting a more embedded and potentially automated data flow within existing cardiology workflows. Steth IO operates as a mobile app and cloud-based system, enabling real-time recording and sharing of exams, which might involve its own platform for data management and sharing rather than direct EHR integration.

What specific clinical utility and accuracy metrics can physicians expect from each tool in their respective applications?

Tempus ECG-AF utilizes an AI algorithm trained on over 1.5 million ECGs to identify patients aged 65 or older at increased risk of developing AF within 12 months, with a reported specificity of 92% and a positive result indicating approximately 1-in-5 patients will experience AF within the next year. Steth IO enhances diagnostic accuracy by providing real-time visualization of heart and lung sounds (phonocardiogram/spectrogram) and digital filters for sound enhancement, aiding in the assessment of cardiac and pulmonary conditions.

For which specific clinical specialties and patient populations is each tool most optimally designed to provide value?

Tempus ECG-AF is designed for Cardiology, Geriatrics, and Internal Medicine, specifically focusing on identifying AF risk in patients 65 years or older without pre-existing AF or certain cardiac devices/surgeries. Steth IO serves Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and Pulmonology, offering broad utility for auscultation, telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring across various patient demographics.

What is the typical learning curve for physicians and their staff to effectively utilize each tool, and how quickly can a practice expect to see clinical value?

Tempus ECG-AF integrates into existing facility systems, meaning the learning curve primarily involves understanding the AI's output and integrating it into clinical decision-making for earlier AF risk identification. Steth IO, as a smartphone-powered app, likely offers a relatively quick individual learning curve for basic use, providing immediate value through enhanced auscultation, recording, and sharing capabilities.

What are the key considerations for deploying each tool across multiple clinical sites or a larger healthcare system?

Deploying Tempus ECG-AF across multiple sites would involve integrating the software solution into each facility's existing systems, requiring coordinated IT implementation and workflow adjustments. Multi-site deployment of Steth IO would involve managing individual smartphone-powered devices and app installations, potentially leveraging its cloud-based system for centralized data management and telemedicine functions, with its Telaspot platform designed for scalable, continuous care solutions.

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Backers

Who funded each tool's parent company.