Unfortunately, to date, the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve and reduce inequities in access, quality, and appropriateness of high-quality diagnosis and care, has remained more of an aspiration than a reality. There are numerous reasons for this situation; the newness of AI, the low sensitivity and specificity of the algorithms, the lack of health equity data… Read More »
In the past, those who had a transient episode of cerebral ischemia, marked by symptoms that resolved quickly, were informed they had a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). Over time, this was translated by the lay population as a “mini-stroke” or “almost a stroke.” And, consequently, these events became minimized as they were deemed “not that bad.” Unfortunately, recent… Read More »
We are a country founded on individual rights. As a society, we have also decided that healthcare is a right of citizenship; we do not permit the denial of care based on one’s ability to pay. Unfortunately, the cost of the administrative components of the healthcare ecosystem is a burden on the overall cost of care. Many of… Read More »
As we continue to identify the benefits of telehealth, we must delineate how this form of technology most efficiently impacts primary care services. One can view such digital interventions as either substitutive or additional. If one utilizes an electronic visit instead of an in-person visit, this is an example of substitution. We are now categorizing this modality as… Read More »
As value-based payment models have continued to expand, this expansion has occurred in the more affluent communities. Additionally, communities with more socioeconomically vulnerable individuals were less likely to be selected for joint replacement bundles, another form of a value-based payment. A big reason for this lack of equitable distribution of value-based care, can be linked to the absence… Read More »
Closing down the country for a year has had consequences on many different areas that may have not initially come to mind. Therefore, in times of crisis, significant learnings may arise if we are open to them and do not revert to previous behaviors and actions. The impact on the residency application process and the final year of… Read More »
As we continue to embrace technology and machine learning to improve care, it is essential to focus on situations as they arise, and advocate adjustments that allow us to evolve. One such area that requires further scrutiny is Physician liability and artificial intelligence (AI). Undeniably, AI is by no means flawless since it involves machine learning on present… Read More »
As we continuously increase our utilization of technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our day-to-day healthcare delivery, understanding how this impacts trust between physician and patient is a vital consideration. Historically, the relationship between a physician and their patient held the highest degree of intimacy, privacy, and assurance. Knowing this, it is right to consider; how does one… Read More »
Frequently, as healthcare providers, our focus is primarily on the issues concerning healthcare; however, there are several additional areas worth examining. For instance, with technology evolving, it is imperative that our ability to treat those we serve keeps pace. As physicians, we have the opportunity to practice differently almost every day. New techniques, state-of-the-art treatment modalities, and cutting-edge… Read More »
Unlike collecting clinical information and medical claims, collecting the data on social determinants of health is much more challenging. Social determinants of health are understood by most to be the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. Historically, the tried and true method to determine these entailed either using demographic data, usually based on… Read More »