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“It doesn't take artificial intelligence to tell you that a preventable hospitalization is not good. A hospital is not a bed-and-breakfast. No one says, "hey, for fun, let's get a hospital room overlooking the parking garage this weekend." A preventable hospitalization is by definition one that could have been prevented. Thus, it costs people, insurance companies, businesses, the government, and society considerable time, effort, and resources that could have been diverted to more productive activities. Plus, a hospitalization may expose a patient to potential badness such as hospital food, being separated from friends and family, medication errors, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Again human intelligence can tell you all this. Where artificial intelligence may be helpful is in reducing such preventable hospitalizations, and Clover Health is an example of a company aiming to do this.
Hospitalizations that could have been prevented continue to be a major problem. A 2010 report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) indicated that in 2008 "one out of every ten hospital stays was potentially preventable" and that "potentially preventable acute conditions accounted for 3.9 percent of all hospital stays, and potentially preventable chronic conditions accounted for 6.2 percent." That would translate to a lot of money going down the proverbial toilet. These rates get even higher when you focus on those who are older or economically disadvantaged. A study from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that in 2009, among a sample of those eligible for both Medicare and full Medicaid benefits "26 percent of hospitalizations were potentially avoidable."
Why are these potentially preventable hospitalizations occurring? Humans are like cars, except that humans are a lot more complex and rarely have fuzzy dice hanging from them. In order to keep your car out of the mechanic's shop or the scrap heap, you have to regularly check, take care of, and maintain the car. This includes taking preemptive measures such as routinely changing the oil and the tires. Similarly, preventive care is so important for humans, especially those with more complex medical situations like older adults.”
Hospitalizations that could have been prevented continue to be a major problem. A 2010 report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) indicated that in 2008 "one out of every ten hospital stays was potentially preventable" and that "potentially preventable acute conditions accounted for 3.9 percent of all hospital stays, and potentially preventable chronic conditions accounted for 6.2 percent." That would translate to a lot of money going down the proverbial toilet. These rates get even higher when you focus on those who are older or economically disadvantaged. A study from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that in 2009, among a sample of those eligible for both Medicare and full Medicaid benefits "26 percent of hospitalizations were potentially avoidable."
Why are these potentially preventable hospitalizations occurring? Humans are like cars, except that humans are a lot more complex and rarely have fuzzy dice hanging from them. In order to keep your car out of the mechanic's shop or the scrap heap, you have to regularly check, take care of, and maintain the car. This includes taking preemptive measures such as routinely changing the oil and the tires. Similarly, preventive care is so important for humans, especially those with more complex medical situations like older adults.”
