AI and Humans Unite for Health Equity

In Camden, New Jersey, a novel health initiative is addressing significant health disparities by integrating artificial intelligence with human connection. The "Healthy Neighbor" program, launched in 2023 by Virtua Health in partnership with Medtronic, pairs community health workers with high-risk patients. This collaborative approach utilizes an AI-enabled platform to monitor chronic conditions, aiming to reconcile competing priorities in healthcare delivery.

The program has shown remarkable clinical results. As of the article's publication in 2026, 74 percent of patients with uncontrolled hypertension experienced a meaningful reduction in systolic blood pressure, averaging a 15 percent drop. Furthermore, 69 percent of patients with diabetes achieved a decrease in their A1c levels by an average of 1.2 percent.

Health system leaders emphasize that while the technology is crucial for tracking and guiding care, the human presence and trust built by community health workers are vital for sustained patient engagement. These workers, employed by Virtua Health and drawn from the local community, address not only health needs but also social determinants like housing and transportation.

The "Healthy Neighbor" initiative, initially piloted in regions internationally by Medtronic LABS, found a successful parallel in Camden. This success has led Virtua Health to expand its community health worker team and has secured significant support, including a $1 million grant from the city of Camden. Both Virtua and Medtronic are exploring further scaling of this hybrid human-AI model to other health systems.