Deep Reinforcement Learning Towards Better Efficiency and Fairness in Health Care

In this talk, we explore how advanced machine learning techniques can optimize the selection of lab test panels for clinical diagnosis and optimize the critical resource allocation for more equitable health care. For diagnostic testing, by leveraging deep reinforcement learning (DRL), we aim to optimize the sequence in which lab tests are conducted, ensuring both cost-effectiveness and diagnostic accuracy, even when dealing with imbalanced clinical data. Our innovative approach introduces a reward shaping mechanism that identifies the best strategies for trade-offs (Pareto-optimal policies) for maximizing diagnostic scores while adhering to budget constraints. Our model not only achieves state-of-the-art diagnostic accuracy but also delivers significant cost savings—up to an 85% reduction across various clinical tasks. For critical resource allocation, we explore reinforcement learning for its optimization. Our transformer-based deep Q-network integrates patient disease progression and interactions for fairer, more effective resource distribution. Experiments show reduced excess deaths and improved equity compared to existing methods across different levels of ventilator shortage.

Dr. Luo is the Chief AI Officer at the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS) and Institute for AI in Medicine, and a tenured Full Professor at the Department of Preventive Medicine, at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Globally recognized for his leadership and significant contributions to biomedical AI, Dr. Luo has been elected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI), Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI), and Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA). A visionary leader in the field, Dr. Luo is at the forefront of building next-generation biomedical informatics and collaborative AI for healthcare. His exemplary leadership shapes strategies across various levels, ranging from university settings to entire health systems to national research consortia. With a commitment to democratizing AI literacy, Dr. Luo has been featured in eminent venues such as The Economist, JAMA Network, Becker's Healthcare and Reuters to share unique visions on delivering data and AI strategies that power Research & Development and drive business value.