HUMAI – High Users Management with AI – aims to develop an intelligent, user-centered digital platform to support the management of frequent users (HU) of emergency departments.
By combining predictive AI models and real-world data analytics, the project will help healthcare professionals better identify, monitor, and intervene in complex HU cases, ultimately improving patient outcomes and optimizing hospital resource allocation.
The project is led by Value for Health CoLAB (VOH), in partnership with NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da NOVA FCT NOVA.ID.FCT and the Local Health Unit of Almada-Seixal (HGO-ULSAS).
VOH leads the development of the case management support platform and the impact assessment framework, applying participatory methodologies and AI algorithms to enhance decision-making and personalize interventions, the platform’s user-centered design and development, NOVA.ID.FCT brings expertise in AI and data science, and HGO-ULSAS contributes with practical insights and data from the award-winning GRHU (High Users Resolution Group) case management program.
HUMAI is an integrated digital solution to support the management of patients who frequently visit emergency departments. The project includes three stages:
A user-centered digital platform is co-developed with healthcare teams to support case management and workflow integration.
AI algorithms are built to identify individuals at risk of becoming high users and forecast outcomes of personalized interventions.
A dashboard evaluates the impact of interventions across patients, professionals, and policymakers, helping guide resource use and improve care.
By combining technology, prediction, and impact analysis, HUMAI empowers teams to deliver more effective, equitable, and sustainable healthcare.
Value For Health CoLAB (VOH) is a private non-profit association that is part of the network of Collaborative Laboratories (CoLAB) recognized by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.
VOH has as its founding members Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, CUF S.A., Vodafone, and Fraunhofer Portugal. It began its activities in May 2019, and its mission is to co-create and validate innovative healthcare delivery solutions, bridging research and the development of products and services with market-ready solutions to deliver high value in health.
VOH has software development, UX/UI, data science, economics and engineering skills and has used participatory research methods to co-design and co-develop with patients and healthcare teams. VOH has a proven track record in developing clinical digital platforms that enhance remote patient-reported outcomes, treatment adherence and AI-based risk prediction.
To date, it has participated in over 20 research projects, collaborated with more than 35 companies and start-ups, over 180 healthcare professionals, and 300 patients, and has published more than 40 scientific papers.
NOVA School of Science and Technology | NOVA FCT is one of Portugal’s leading public institutions in engineering and science education and research, hosting nearly 8 000 students and 16 research centres across 14 academic departments. It maintains strong international collaborations, including with MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Texas at Austin and actively participates in European and national research initiatives.
NOVA.ID.FCT, a private non-profit research organization based at NOVA FCT, serves as the legal entity for its R&D activities and manages projects across 16 research units, nine of which are rated as Excellent by FCT. With extensive experience in large-scale research programmes, including FP7 and H2020 projects, NOVA.ID.FCT brings critical expertise to the project through the LibPhys Biosignals group, contributing advanced capabilities in predictive analytics, AI model development and user-centered digital innovation. It will play a key role in designing an intuitive, evidence-based platform and in translating findings to inform healthcare policy and practice.
Unidade Local de Saúde de Almada Seixal (HGO-ULSAS), includes Hospital Garcia de Orta (HGO), 31 community healthcare centres from which 22 are family health units (USF).
HGO-ULSAS’s mission is to provide specialized care, ensuring that patient care matches their needs based on best clinical practices and efficient resource use. The HGO-ULSAS also focuses on research, education, prevention and continuity of care, prioritizing the patient-first principle.
In 2016, HGO, USF Almada and USF Seixal launched the High Users Resolution Group Program (GRHU) to manage high users (HU) and reduce emergency department (ED) visits. This multidisciplinary team provides patient-centered case management, planning personalized interventions to monitor patients. Addressing socioeconomic, emotional and environmental factors, the GRHU has effectively reduced ED visits, hospital use and related costs while improving patients' quality of life and satisfaction. In December 2023, there was a 50.2% reduction in HU compared to December 2016, with a 52.3% decrease in ED episodes. By January 2024, GRHU had worked with over 500 HU.
Recognized for its commitment to excellence, HGO-ULSAS has received national and international awards, including the Quality Improvement Award from Caspe Healthcare Knowledge Systems and being a finalist in the Top Health Awards 2023/24 with GRHU. These awards highlight the unit's dedication to improving the quality of offered services.
Discover the latest news, milestones, and insights from our journey to transform emergency care through digital innovation, AI, and stakeholder-driven value assessment.
Correia Azevedo, P., Rei, C., Grande, R., Saraiva, M., Guede-Fernández, F., Oliosi, E. and Londral, A. 2024. Assessment of the Impact of Home-Based Hospitalization on Health Outcomes: An Observational Study. Acta Médica Portuguesa. 37, 6 (Jun. 2024), 445–454.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.20474 December 2025Check it out on LinkedIn
September 2025Whether you’re a healthcare professional, researcher, or policymaker, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to learn more about HUMAI or explore collaboration opportunities.
Contact information of the leading organisation (VOH).
