Researchers Identify Biased Algorithms Prevalent Throughout the US Healthcare Industry

June 24, 2021

University of Chicago researchers found that biased healthcare algorithms are affecting patient care in hospital settings, as well as interactions with payers. One algorithm, the Emergency Severity Index, was found to incorrectly assess the medical condition of Black patients. Researchers note that the problem of biased algorithms is immense, unclear, and requires extensive correction.

“[I]nstead of making health care delivery more objective and precise, a new report finds, these algorithms — some of which have been in use for many years — are often making it more biased along racial and economic lines…The researchers found that bias is common in both traditional clinical calculators and checklists as well as more complex algorithms that use statistics and artificial intelligence to make predictions or automate certain tasks.” Read more here.

(Source: Casey Ross, 6/21/21, STAT News)

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