Bridging the Gap: How AI in Healthcare Promises to Boost Patient Care and Equity, but Challenges Loom with Algorithm Bias and Unequal Access

A recent fact sheet examines the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, highlighting both its potential benefits and challenges. The focus is on how AI can improve patient care, increase accessibility to healthcare services, and promote health equity within systems such as Medi-Cal.

The article explores several key areas where AI could be used, including back-office operations, clinical support, population health management, and health workforce solutions. While there are numerous benefits to integrating AI into these areas, there are also risks that must be carefully considered.

One of the main concerns is algorithm bias. If an algorithm is based on biased or unrepresentative data, it may perpetuate existing disparities and exacerbate existing inequalities in healthcare. Other risks include data breaches, job losses due to automation, and unequal access to technology and resources needed to benefit from AI tools and solutions.

To mitigate these risks, the fact sheet emphasizes the importance of being mindful of issues related to data privacy, informed consent, algorithm bias, responsible oversight, and equitable access. As AI tools become more widely adopted in healthcare settings across the safety net system