The session brought together industry experts to explore the intersection of regional and national data standards, social determinants of health (SDOH), and the role of AI in transforming care delivery. Moderated by Rajib Ghosh, CEO of Health Roads, the session featured insights from Anil Jain, M.D. of Innovaccer, Jason Buckner of Manifest MedEx, and Dan Chavez of Serving Communities HIO.
The discussion centered on the challenges of aligning local health data exchange priorities with national standards, such as TEFCA and USCDI updates. California’s Data Exchange Framework (DXF) was highlighted as a pioneering model requiring organizations to share social data, including SDOH, with designated trusted entities. The speakers emphasized that the success of such efforts depends heavily on governance, transparency, and trust at the local level.
The panel also explored how AI can enhance care coordination by leveraging both structured and unstructured data. Dr. Jain discussed practical AI use cases, such as summarizing patient conversations into clinical notes, predicting patient needs, and even generating plain-language summaries for patients for follow-up care. However, speakers cautioned that the rapid pace of AI innovation could outstrip the slow progress of standards development, creating challenges for integration across diverse health systems.
A recurring theme was the importance of balancing innovation and reliability. The panel debated whether viewing health data systems as public utilities—akin to water or electricity—might hinder innovation or provide necessary dependability. The consensus was that while disruptive technologies drive change, health data ‘utilities’ must maintain trust, transparency, and equity, ensuring they meet community needs without compromising care.
