Question

A health system implements a machine learning algorithm that predicts 30-day readmission in patients with chronic kidney disease. The algorithm uses prior admissions, comorbidities, and lab trends as inputs.

Which term best describes this application?

a.
Predictive analytics
b.
Descriptive analytics
c.
Reinforcement learning
d.
Robotic process automation

Answer 1

a. Predictive analytics

Reason: The algorithm forecasts future events (30-day readmission) using historical data, which is the definition of predictive analytics. Descriptive analytics summarizes past data, reinforcement learning is a training paradigm for decision-making agents, and robotic process automation automates repetitive tasks.