AI and Healthcare How AI is Fixing Healthcare’s Cost Crisis—with Dr. Sanjay Juneja [Full Podcast]
Apr 10, 2025
Dr. Alister Martin, an ER physician at Harvard and a former White House fellow, discusses the promising role of AI in transforming healthcare. He details how AI can cut costs, improve patient care, and reduce administrative burdens. The conversation dives into addressing social issues like food and housing insecurity that often lead patients to emergency rooms, showcasing AI's potential to connect them with financial aid. Innovations in emergency care, such as augmented reality, are also highlighted as game-changers that could streamline workflows and enhance efficiency.
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Non-medical ER Visits Costly
- 40-50% of ER visits are due to social or policy emergencies, not medical issues.
- Example: A homeless man came to ER on his birthday, costing $3,000 for minimal care.
Unused Aid Burdens Healthcare
- Over $80 billion in federal/state aid exists but is often unused by eligible patients.
- Connecting patients to this aid can reduce ER visits and hospitalizations significantly.
Money as Medicine Proven
- A study gave low-income patients $200 monthly and saw fewer ER visits and hospitalizations.
- This illustrates the "money as medicine" concept, showing financial assistance as healthcare investment.