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A Physician-directed AI-driven Mobile Approach to Preventive Care Management

Shaji Nair

By Shaji Nair, CEO, Friska.AI.

When it comes to providing comprehensive preventive care, more than annual checkups are required. A patient-facing approach is needed to support the establishment of a health-forward routine comprised of proper nutrition and exercise, mental and emotional health, and chronic condition management.

Numerous studies back this preventive care model, which produces wide-ranging benefits, from improved health outcomes to lower care utilization to lower healthcare costs.

Unfortunately, despite its known benefits, the US healthcare system has been slow in its uptake of preventive care for many patients; just 8% of Americans currently undergo routine preventive screenings and care. As a result, the US loses about $55 billion annually due to missed prevention opportunities. That’s about $0.30 for every dollar spent on healthcare services.

Reversing these trends is the driving force behind the growing interest in lifestyle or preventive medicine and the adoption of technology tools to support physicians and patients in this approach.

Emergence of Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle medicine uses evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive behavioral, and therapeutic lifestyle interventions to prevent, treat, and manage chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. By integrating the six pillars of lifestyle medicine—nutrition, physical activity, stress management, restorative sleep, social connection, and avoidance of risky substances—into patient care, lifestyle medicine helps patients improve their health and well-being.

A lifestyle or preventive approach to medicine can address up to 80% of chronic diseases and potentially reverse the decades-long rise in the prevalence of chronic conditions and associated costs. It can also improve both patient and provider satisfaction. This aligns with the Quintuple Aim of better health outcomes, lower cost, improved patient satisfaction, improved provider well-being, and advancement of health equity.

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