2021 Will Bring AI, Social Determinants of Health into Focus

After a turbulent, momentous year, many rang in 2021 eager for a fresh start. In healthcare, however, some things will remain the same: namely, the significance of artificial intelligence and social determinants of health data.

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In a recent episode, Healthcare Strategies analyzed these trends and other major expectations for 2021.

Throughout the pandemic, organizations leveraged AI and data analytics tools to track disease spread and assess patient risk. The crisis pushed academic institutions, health systems, and vendors to develop and refine their AI and machine learning capabilities, setting the stage for even more advanced technologies in 2021.

So far in the new year, researchers have used AI to predict the likelihood of prostate cancer recurrence, assess tumor genetics, and analyze patient brain scans. As the year goes on, the industry will likely see organizations use data analytics tools to enhance day-to-day operations, as well as visibility to keep up with the demand for virtual care.

Social determinants of health data will also play a critical role in the healthcare industry in 2021. While this information is typically difficult to access and share, COVID-19 made social determinants data a crucial asset for organizations seeking to target interventions and get ahead of poor outcomes.

Collaborations between health systems and community organizations became more widespread, a trend that will likely continue into 2021.

The heightened emphasis on social determinants of health during the pandemic has also led researchers to examine the non-clinical factors that impact patient health. A team from Michigan Medicine recently discovered that racial disparities in cancer and COVID-19 outcomes stem from very similar factors, a finding that could inform public health policies.

“The similarities between COVID-19 issues and cancer disparities are uncanny,” said John M. Carethers, MD, John G. Searle Professor and Chair of Internal Medicine at Michigan Medicine. 

“In cancer we are seeing in slow motion what has been observed rapidly with COVID – that the same conditions in our society put specific groups at risk for both. If we can fundamentally change socioeconomic inequality, we theoretically could reduce disparities in both diseases.”

If 2020 forced healthcare to take a hard look at what needs improvement, 2021 will be a reflection of the progress the industry has made – and how far it still has to go.