Ashwin Patel — WritingEssays on AI in healthcare, health economics, peer support, social connection, and the business of medicine.https://ashwinpatel.io/en-usPayers forced to publish prior authorization statshttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/prior-auth-transparency-quality-report-card/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/prior-auth-transparency-quality-report-card/I spent years studying what happens when you force health plans to publish quality data. That history is repeating itself again now.Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThealth-economicshealth-plan-strategyBlock laid off 4,000 staff last weekhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/block-laid-off-4000-staff-last-week/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/block-laid-off-4000-staff-last-week/Block can ship code with fewer engineers. Healthcare can't ship fewer clinicians. At least, not yet.Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTai-in-healthcarehealth-plan-strategyWhy I built Conference Navigatorhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/why-i-built-conference-navigator/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/why-i-built-conference-navigator/I got tired of the Googling and Google Sheets.Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTcompany-buildingai-in-healthcareIntroducing the 3-2-1 Health AI Newsletterhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/following-ai-in-healthcare/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/following-ai-in-healthcare/Back then, keeping up was manageable. Now it's a firehose.Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTai-in-healthcareAfter InquisitHealth, after Pyx: My next chapter.https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/zip-codes-determine-health-outcomes/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/zip-codes-determine-health-outcomes/The consensus was clear: zip codes determine health outcomes. I didn't fully buy it.Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThealth-economicshealth-plan-strategyPhones aren't stealing childhoods. But maybe parents are.https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/phones-arent-stealing-childhoods/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/phones-arent-stealing-childhoods/In real life, kids are fenced in. In a phone, kids are free to roam.Sat, 09 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMTsocial-connectionhot-takesReflections on the BAPS Charities Healthcare Professionals Conference (Texas)https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/hcp-2025-reflection/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/hcp-2025-reflection/Help someone up the mountain, and you get to the top, too.Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMTpersonal-journeyspiritualityDeep Dive into Hinge's S1 Pre-IPOhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/hinge-s-1-engagement-rate/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/hinge-s-1-engagement-rate/One stat deserves way more attention: 3.4% Engagement Rate.Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 GMThealth-plan-strategyhealth-economicsPrecision Social Care is herehttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/precision-social-care-is-here/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/precision-social-care-is-here/We'll soon use biology—not surveys, not insurance claims—to guide social interventions.Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThealth-economicschronic-diseaseMachine learning isn't ready to predict schizophrenia or bipolar — yethttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/ml-not-ready-to-predict-schizophrenia/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/ml-not-ready-to-predict-schizophrenia/A common challenge in low-prevalence conditions — high false positives despite good overall discrimination.Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTai-in-healthcarechronic-diseaseBad Science Undermines the Causehttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/bad-science-undermines-the-cause/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/bad-science-undermines-the-cause/We can't afford to win a battle, and lose the war.Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThealth-economicsNature Medicine (2025): AI Outdoes Humans in ECG Heart Arrhythmia Detectionhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/ai-outdoes-humans-ecg-arrhythmia/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/ai-outdoes-humans-ecg-arrhythmia/ECG Techs missed 44 critical arrhythmias per 1,000 patients. AI missed 3.Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTai-in-healthcareQJE (2024): The Health Costs of Cost-Sharinghttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/qje-health-costs-of-cost-sharing/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/qje-health-costs-of-cost-sharing/“What happens when patients suddenly stop taking their medications?” This is a HARD question to study.Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThealth-economicshealth-plan-strategychronic-diseaseWhat is the solution to loneliness?https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/what-is-the-solution-to-loneliness/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/what-is-the-solution-to-loneliness/htleaH laicoS 😎Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTsocial-connectionPursue AI with vigor. And proceed with caution.https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/ai-driven-efficiency-be-careful/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/ai-driven-efficiency-be-careful/With great power comes great responsibility.Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTai-in-healthcarecompany-buildingEverything in health care always changes.https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/everything-in-healthcare-changes/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/everything-in-healthcare-changes/But you changing, that's the key.Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTpersonal-journeyhealth-plan-strategySurveys are brokenhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/better-surveys-and-surveying/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/better-surveys-and-surveying/Why? We want to get without giving.Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMThealth-plan-strategypeer-supportThink “Leading” vs. “Lagging” Indicatorshttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/leading-and-lagging-indicators/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/leading-and-lagging-indicators/Don’t focus on something you can’t change now.Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTcompany-buildinghealth-plan-strategyBetter Meetingshttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/better-meetings/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/better-meetings/Few simple changes dramatically improve how meetings work.Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTcompany-buildingPatient Engagement: Holy Grail for Techhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/patient-engagement-holy-grail/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/patient-engagement-holy-grail/Patient Engagement: Holy Grail for TechTue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMThealth-plan-strategyai-in-healthcareKeeping Up with Researchhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/keeping-up-with-research/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/keeping-up-with-research/Keeping Up with ResearchSat, 29 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTclinical-trialspersonal-journeyCultivate Diversity Through Diversityhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/cultivating-diversity/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/cultivating-diversity/Cultivate Diversity Through DiversityThu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTcompany-buildingpeer-supportFeedback from Belowhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/feedback-from-below/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/feedback-from-below/Feedback from BelowThu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTcompany-buildingpersonal-journeyIntroduction to Myselfhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/introduction-to-myself/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/introduction-to-myself/To help break the ice, here are some facts about me —Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTpersonal-journeyNew Publication: Pinto et al., 2024https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/17-years-research-to-impact/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/17-years-research-to-impact/Research can take 17 years to go from bench to bedside. I didn't believe that number — until I lived it.Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThot-takesclinical-trialsHas "meditate" been on your to-do list?https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/has-meditate-ever-been-on-your-to-do-list/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/has-meditate-ever-been-on-your-to-do-list/I'd studied the science. Downloaded the apps. Still didn't meditate — until 100 days ago.Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTpersonal-journeyspiritualityMutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustivehttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/mece-framework/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/mece-framework/My go-to framework to more robustly think through complex problemsFri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTcompany-buildingThe fast way to fail is to ‘patiently’ engage patients.https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/patient-engagement-proactive/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/patient-engagement-proactive/We can’t stand by and wait for patients to engage with us.Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThealth-plan-strategypeer-supportAccelerate your ability to better serve your patientshttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/serving-diverse-populations/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/serving-diverse-populations/Patient communities are an underutilized resource.Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTpeer-supporthealth-plan-strategyEmpathy: Key to unlocking Lonelinesshttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/solving-loneliness-v2-empathy-short/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/solving-loneliness-v2-empathy-short/Loneliness has many causes. Loneliness has many solutions.Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTsocial-connectionpeer-supportHow to solve loneliness (for one person)https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/solving-loneliness/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/solving-loneliness/We can’t figure that out unless we get that person to trust us enough — to let us in.Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTsocial-connectionpeer-supportSocial Isolation vs. Loneliness: They're Not the Samehttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/social-isolation-vs-loneliness/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/social-isolation-vs-loneliness/Social Isolation vs. Loneliness: They're Not the SameMon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTsocial-connectionBusting 3 CHW Myths: Community. Health. Worker.https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/busting-3-chw-myths/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/busting-3-chw-myths/Community isn't just about geography. Health isn't limited to healthcare. Worker isn't just a job.Tue, 13 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMTpeer-supporthealth-plan-strategyFounding a new company takes couragehttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/founding-a-new-company-takes-courage/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/founding-a-new-company-takes-courage/Many must come together to make something out of nothing.Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMTcompany-buildingpersonal-journeyMy dad's superpower: my momhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/my-mom-rolled-up-her-sleeves/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/my-mom-rolled-up-her-sleeves/Mom worked the night shift while dad did the day shift. I was passed between them in the parking lot.Fri, 15 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMTpersonal-journeyLifetime of Inspiration: My Dadhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/my-dad-came-to-the-us-from-india/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/my-dad-came-to-the-us-from-india/Here he was a nobody...but that didn't stop him.Fri, 08 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMTpersonal-journeypeer-supportWhy patients don't follow through (and what to do about it)https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/sdoh-patients-not-following-through/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/sdoh-patients-not-following-through/We keep asking those struggling to lift the biggest burden.Wed, 22 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMThealth-plan-strategypeer-support6 Qualities That Make Someone a Standout Team Memberhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/6-qualities-standout-team-member/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/6-qualities-standout-team-member/Creating a great team starts with finding these right-fit individuals.Wed, 15 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMTcompany-buildingThe Transformation of Peer Mentoring in Healthcarehttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/transformation-to-peer-mentoring-in-healthcare/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/transformation-to-peer-mentoring-in-healthcare/Tech is activating an untapped workforce to help us solve some of healthcare’s deepest challenges.Thu, 15 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMTpeer-supportai-in-healthcareAntidote To The Anti-Vaccination Movement: Peer-to-Peer Mentoringhttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/antidote-to-anti-vaccination-movement/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/antidote-to-anti-vaccination-movement/Fear can get the best of us—especially when it’s about something we cannot control.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMTpeer-supportai-in-healthcareThe One Value That Theranos Got Wronghttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/one-value-theranos-got-wrong/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/one-value-theranos-got-wrong/The opposite of fraud is not authenticity.Thu, 11 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMTcompany-buildingpersonal-journeyIntroducing InquisitHealth: Harnessing the Power of Peershttps://ashwinpatel.io/writing/introducing-inquisithealth/https://ashwinpatel.io/writing/introducing-inquisithealth/Can these ‘positive outliers’ help guide others to the same success?Wed, 01 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMTpeer-supportcompany-building