Technology is transforming cardiovascular care—but innovation without intention can widen disparities instead of closing them.
At the 2025 Policy Pulse Summit, ABC leaders and policy experts explored the promise—and the risks—of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital health tools, and remote monitoring.
Panelists agreed that technology alone will not fix a fragmented health system. Smart devices, AI-driven diagnostics, and digital platforms are only effective if patients can access care, afford treatment, and trust the systems designed to serve them.
Concerns raised during the discussion included biased algorithms, unrepresentative datasets, lack of transparency, and over-reliance on AI at the expense of clinical judgment. Without guardrails, new technologies risk reinforcing the same inequities they aim to solve.
ABC leaders emphasized that humans must remain “in the loop.” AI can support clinicians—by assisting with imaging review, reducing administrative burden, or improving triage—but it should never replace hands-on care, physician oversight, or patient-centered decision-making.
Equally important is who is involved in designing and deploying these tools. Panelists stressed that communities most affected by cardiovascular disparities must be part of innovation from the start—not an afterthought.
As ABC Chief Science Officer Dr. Keith Ferdinand noted, breakthroughs only matter if they reach the people who need them most.
Innovation, when paired with equity, accountability, and policy safeguards, can expand access and improve outcomes. Without guardrails, it risks becoming just another barrier.
