AI-Powered Healthcare for the Homeless: California’s Akido Labs Experiment

A Los Angeles-based healthcare technology company, Akido Labs, is piloting an artificial intelligence program designed to expand medical access to people experiencing homelessness. The program, called Scope AI, aims to streamline diagnosis and treatment by assisting outreach workers in the field and connecting them with remote physicians.

AI-Assisted Healthcare for Vulnerable Populations

Scope AI functions by prompting outreach workers with questions during patient interviews. The AI then transcribes and analyzes the conversation, suggesting potential diagnoses, necessary tests, and even medication options. A human doctor then reviews these suggestions and either approves them, makes adjustments, or schedules a more comprehensive examination. This process is intended to alleviate the strain on limited medical resources and increase the number of patients served.

Did You Know? Akido’s street medicine teams have already used Scope AI to see over 5,000 patients in Los Angeles and Kern Counties.

The need for this technology stems from a critical gap in healthcare access for those without stable housing. According to data referenced in the program’s development, homeless individuals often go years without seeing a doctor or dentist and experience significantly poorer health outcomes than the general population. Steve Good, president and CEO of Five Keys, a partner in the program’s San Francisco rollout, emphasized the lack of resources available to address the healthcare needs of this population, stating, “There just aren’t enough resources to go in there and find out the needs these individuals have.”

Concerns and Considerations

While experts acknowledge the potential benefits of AI in expanding healthcare access, they also raise concerns about data privacy, algorithmic bias, and patient outcomes, particularly within vulnerable communities. Angel Hsing-Chi Hwang, an assistant professor at USC researching human-AI interaction, noted, “We don’t have perfect solutions to a lot of these challenges yet.”

Some medical professionals, like Brett Feldman, director of USC Street Medicine, question the suitability of AI-driven diagnosis for individuals experiencing homelessness. Feldman argues that the complexities of a patient’s living situation—such as a lack of access to showers—can be crucial to accurate treatment and may be overlooked by an AI. He stated, “I would say, in general, that this would not work for this population.”

Expert Insight: The introduction of AI into healthcare for vulnerable populations presents a trade-off between increased efficiency and the potential for overlooking critical contextual factors that influence health outcomes. Careful implementation and ongoing evaluation are essential to ensure equitable and effective care.

Akido Labs maintains that the technology improves efficiency, allowing doctors to see approximately 350 patients compared to 200 before AI implementation. The medical care provided through this program is funded by Medi-Cal’s CalAIM expansion.

Expanding Access Through Partnerships

Beyond its initial deployments, Akido Labs is partnering with Reimagine Freedom and the Young Women’s Freedom Center to extend the program to centers serving formerly incarcerated women in the Bay Area. These centers, which currently offer health education, will now be able to provide direct medical care through the AI-assisted platform. Reimagine Freedom President Jessica Nowlan anticipates “a huge increase in women being able to access health and care for themselves.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Scope AI suggest diagnoses?

Scope AI suggests diagnoses by listening to and transcribing interviews between outreach workers and patients, then analyzing the conversation for relevant symptoms and medical history.

What role do doctors play in the Scope AI process?

Doctors review the diagnoses, prescriptions, and test suggestions made by Scope AI and either approve them, make changes, or schedule a more detailed examination with the patient.

Where is Scope AI currently being used?

Scope AI is currently being used in homeless encampments in Los Angeles and Kern Counties, clinics in California and Rhode Island, and to treat ride-share workers in New York.

As Akido Labs expands its partnerships and deployments, it remains to be seen how effectively AI can address the complex healthcare needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and whether the technology will ultimately improve health outcomes for this vulnerable population.