Private Grant Funding Supports Using AI to Address Disparities

July 19, 2023 - After receiving funding from Scott and Debby Rechler, Northwell Health and the Feinstein Institutes are using artificial intelligence (AI) to create the Center for Health Outcomes under the Institute of Health System Science at Feinstein Institute. The goal is to diminish disparities and ultimately improve care.

Disparities are issues that emerge frequently in healthcare, largely due to gaps in access to resources. Scott Rechler, co-chair of the Feinstein Institutes board of directors, noted that the current healthcare system tends to practice in an unideal manner.

“For too long, our country’s healthcare system has been focused on reacting to illness rather than taking steps to proactively prevent illness,” he said, in a press release.

A $10 million grant from Scott and Debby Rechler provided researchers with an opportunity to improve care delivery and define negative trends. Furthermore, this data enables a more proactive approach to treating those who lack resources.

According to the press release, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes are conditions where disparities are prevalent. Together, these illnesses result in up to $19.5 trillion lost due to life expectancy, disability-free living, and time in the workforce decreases. Even minimal improvements can yield noticeable financial benefits.

“Through the use of data, we can better identify issues early on and proactively drive healthcare outcomes before they become larger problems. This data will provide insights that will help inform healthcare protocols as well as public policy to improve the health and wellness of our communities,” continued Rechler.

The press release also emphasized the credibility of Northwell Health. Possessing a large, diverse service area, Northwell Health can enhance the health of the communities it serves.

“With this gift, we can leverage Northwell’s vast network and expertise to create a better and far more efficient means to deliver health care and improve patient outcomes to those who need it most,” said Debby Rechler. “There is simply no other healthcare provider in the State of New York that is better positioned to undertake such an effort than Northwell.”  

With this funding from the Rechler’s, the organizations will also be able to recruit a new leading data scientist to work toward shaping the new generation of scientists.

The organizations also plan to budget toward hiring health economists and scientists to determine trends for improving care.

Prior efforts, including one in May, have leveraged AI to assist those who are underserved.

Research from MetroHealth and Case Western Reserve University that took place during this month indicated that AI was effective in determining the likelihood of appointment no-shows. The population that the researchers analyzed consisted of residents of various communities in Cleveland, including minorities.

Researchers used patient data to construct an AI model within the MetroHealth Epic EHR system. In doing so, they focused on adult internal medicine patients with a likely no-show rate of 15 percent or higher.

After building this model, they conducted a trial that involved patients receiving phone calls from MetroHealth Schedulers. Telehealth and transportation options existed for those who indicated barriers to in-person care.

Upon review of the results, they found that Black patients who received phone calls had 36 percent lower no-show rates than those who did not receive calls.