Harnessing AI To Bridge Healthcare Disparities
HARNESSING AI TO BRIDGE HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES Forbes
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Addressing Healthcare Disparities
In American healthcare, access to quality medical services remains a privilege often dictated by factors beyond one’s control. These disparities, deeply ingrained in the fabric of society, manifest in differing life expectancies and unequal health outcomes. Yet, amidst these challenges, Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) transformative potential holds the promise of transcending barriers, democratizing healthcare, and fostering equitable access to vital services.
Healthcare leaders must lead the way in harnessing AI to promote equitable access to quality care.
Through strategic leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, company leadership has the opportunity to leverage AI as a powerful tool for advancing health equity and improving health outcomes for all individuals.
Translating the Patient-Doctor Relationship
Understanding health conditions and treatment options can pose significant challenges for nearly every patient, as the complexities of science and medicine are inherently difficult for the average individual to grasp. All too often, errors or misunderstandings occur between doctors, patients and their caregivers. There’s no way for healthcare workers to provide the right-level of education and support for every patient, from every background. We’re left with a huge margin for communication errors, with no human-enabled solution in sight.
Improving Research by Leveraging RWD and RWE
Incorporating real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) into research methodologies offers invaluable insights into patient behaviors beyond clinical settings, enhancing the evaluation of health outcomes. Both RWD and RWE rely on self-reporting by patients that may vary widely and lead to discrepancies in information sharing. If a patient is participating in an observational study or monitoring their own chronic condition, it’s critical that they’re able to provide the most accurate data. Researchers may need to combine self-reported patient data with sources such as health records and disease registries. This large trove of data is an opportunity for AI to synthesize and analyze RWD and RWE to provide researchers with perspectives on how patients are managing their health conditions.
Challenges for Adoption and How to Solve Them
Delivering AI to a complex industry like healthcare requires complex evaluations. Navigating regulatory authorities, safeguarding patient confidentiality, fostering linguistic inclusivity, and refining user experiences are just a few of the multifaceted challenges that must be considered and adequately planned for to ensure success. AI experts who also understand the unique healthcare environment can provide guidance as the technology becomes more advanced and better positioned to make a positive meaningful impact on patients.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article
SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content:
- SDG 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
- SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
- SDG 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
- SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article:
- Access to quality medical services
- Life expectancy
- Health outcomes
- Mortality rates
- Education gaps
- Patient literacy
- Communication errors
- Trust levels in healthcare providers
- Adherence to treatment recommendations
- Self-reported patient data
- Pain assessment and reporting
- Linguistic inclusivity
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. | Access to quality medical services Health outcomes Mortality rates |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development. | Education gaps Patient literacy |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. | Education gaps Trust levels in healthcare providers |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. | Education gaps Trust levels in healthcare providers |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. | Linguistic inclusivity |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: forbes.com
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