2023 Arkansas Waiver Association Conference

We’re exhibiting and presenting at the 2023 Arkansas Waiver Association Conference! 

Keynote

Looking to the Future: Arkansas Policy Outlook and How Artificial Intelligence Fits In

We seek to improve the quality of life for individuals with a developmental disability and their families through active advocacy, open communications, and an exchange of professional ideas. The goal of the PASSE system is to monitor individuals’ health care needs, keep them healthy, and help them reach goals. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has identified machine learning as a goal for person-centered outcomes by 2029. Data tools can examine unstructured data like service documentation to analyze patterns and predict when a positive or negative event may occur. This data can help us identify opportunities for interventions and unmet needs much sooner. We can equip individuals and their circles of support with the tools they need to be empowered and in charge of their own lives – and also partner better with the PASSE system. During this keynote, the presenters will share real data that includes negative consequences that arise when prior approvals are denied for fear of the bottom line or where the medical model of thinking reigns supreme. For too long individuals have been at the mercy of payers and the provider systems rely on. Machine learning can be used to protect individual autonomy and improve outcomes by predicting and preventing negative consequences before they can occur.

Presenters:

Dr. Syard Evans, CEO, Arkansas Support Network  
Doug Golub, President, MediSked

Breakout Session

How Natural Language Processing Can Be Applied for Data Analysis to Advocate for the People and Services that We Support

Arkansas Support Network provides support and services to individuals and families with children with disabilities and our agency has a responsibility to the whole community.  Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a plot device in the movies – but actually has potential for the work that we do. Natural language processing (NLP) is the use of software to process, analyze, and understand written data – much like the plans and notes we collect on the people we support. This form of AI is the future of what can be harnessed in home and community-based services to extract and quantify written words and study subjective information. MediSked has been engaged in significant work and studies using data tools and machine learning to analyze patterns in service note documentation such as changes in health, housing, employment, circles of support other data from providers, including Arkansas Support Network (ASN). This will be the trend of the future, but by the end of our session today, attendees can expect to: 

• Understand the basics of sentiment analysis and natural language processing and how it can be applied to advocacy in the human services field
• Explore real use cases from real (de-identified) individuals and real provider agencies
• Understand how to improve lives and outcomes through futuristic technologies
• Learn about opportunities to use NLP to address health equity measures

Presenters:

Dr. Syard Evans, CEO, Arkansas Support Network
Doug Golub, President, MediSked