In a recent wide-ranging conversation with the Fixing Healthcare podcast, Optum CEO Patrick Conway shared insights on how artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to redefine health care over the next decade. The discussion also touched on rare disease therapies, preventive care and the power of data — all areas where Optum is actively innovating. Optum is scaling integrated care models nationwide, combining clinical innovation, data analytics and home-based services to deliver better outcomes at a lower cost.
AI’s promise
From reducing administrative waste to accelerating rare disease diagnoses, AI is already showing promise, Conway said. “I remember reading through a rare diagnosis and figuring it out on page 296,” he said. “Imagine if AI could do that instantly.”
Conway noted that physicians are beginning to use AI to validate their own diagnoses and help patients understand and manage their conditions better.
Personalized care through data-driven interventions
Conway also shared a story about a 91-year-old patient who had eight hospitalizations last year but none this year thanks to the proactive care she received through Optum at Home, a care program for dual-eligible members, serving over 1 million people. Using data and analytics, the team designs personalized clinical plans which include in-home visits and social support.
The program reflects Optum’s commitment to delivering the kind of care “we all want for our own mother,” Conway said.
Prevention and personalized care
Conway emphasized the importance of engaging individuals in their own care. “We’re excited about apps and devices that help people understand their disease and manage it. At Optum, we’re doing that now.”
“We need to focus on better health care outcomes. To get there, we must improve faster. If you want to be a clinician, do it — it’s a calling. I believe we’ll do things in five to 10 years that people can’t even imagine.”
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