While large hospital systems deploy sophisticated AI to predict patient surges and allocate resources, a three-dentist practice in New Hyde Park has been managing schedules with spreadsheets and intuition. That gap is closing.
EquityForecast, a nonprofit forecasting software organization founded by Shome Chakraborty and Fardil Khan, announced partnerships with seven clinics across Nassau County and Queens. The organization brings AI-powered forecasting to independent practices, helping them anticipate patient demand, plan staffing, and improve care.
EquityForecast operates as a nonprofit to ensure accessibility. Chakraborty built the forecasting models to deliver actionable insights without requiring practices to invest in new hardware or hire IT staff. Khan’s clinical guidance ensures the work addresses questions clinicians actually face: When should we bring in extra staff? Which patient populations will need more attention next month? How do we prepare for seasonal demand shifts?
The seven partner clinics span Nassau County and Queens, representing diverse specialties and patient populations. At North Shore Foot & Ankle Associates, Dr. Michael A. Pliskin said EquityForecast “will help us predict patient volumes before surges, anticipate when diabetic patients require higher-intensity monitoring, forecast seasonal injury patterns, plan surgical schedules, optimize staffing efficiently, and manage medical-supply needs.”
Nassau County’s population aged 65 and older has grown 21 percent in the past decade to more than 253,000 residents. Dr. Pliskin noted that “regular podiatry visits can reduce diabetic amputation risk by up to 80 percent”—an outcome that depends on practices having capacity when patients need it most.
Dr. Himanshu Pandya of Floral Park Medical and Cross Island Medical said EquityForecast “will help address the burden of missed or rescheduled appointments—a significant financial and personal burden on patients who juggle hourly or multiple jobs.” For working families across Nassau County and Queens, a missed appointment isn’t just an inconvenience. It can mean lost wages, delayed care, and compounding health complications.
At Care Medical Services in Great Neck, Dr. Sumathi Kemisetti said EquityForecast “will reduce delayed care, stressed teams, and frustrated patients and families.” The ability to anticipate patient flow allows practices to staff appropriately, reducing burnout among clinical teams and wait times for patients.
Dr. Diana Gerov of Happy Smiles Dental in New Hyde Park said EquityForecast “will help us understand scheduling dynamics, reduce abrupt disruptions, support our staff, and create a more predictable patient experience.” For small dental practices managing everything from routine cleanings to urgent care, forecasting transforms reactive crisis management into proactive planning.
Dr. Fabiola Milord said EquityForecast “will provide clarity for scheduling, enable better planning, thoughtful staffing, and preserve patient access.” At Lake Success Smiles, a family dental practice serving the community for more than 30 years, the partnership with EquityForecast represents a shift toward data-driven operations that balance efficiency with patient care.
The Long Island partnerships represent the first phase of EquityForecast’s broader mission to extend forecasting to underserved healthcare systems. In Nassau County and Queens, the organization is working in a region where independent practices serve diverse communities—from aging populations requiring complex chronic care to working families who need reliable, accessible primary care.
The seven clinics—spanning primary care offices, hospital medicine groups, podiatry practices, and dental clinics—are testing whether forecasting can level the playing field between independent providers and large health systems. The early signs are promising: clinicians report they can finally see demand before it overwhelms their schedules, staff before burnout sets in, and plan before crisis forces their hand.
In a healthcare landscape increasingly dominated by corporate consolidation and enterprise software, EquityForecast is proving that small practices don’t need to be acquired to compete. They need to be equipped. But the vision is bigger: a future where every independent clinic, regardless of size or budget, can answer the question that keeps providers up at night: What’s coming, and are we ready?
