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After two years spent studying how doctors use artificial intelligence and developing guidance around AI to better serve its physician members, the American Medical Association on Monday announced a new Center for Digital Health and AI.
The group hopes it will "put physicians at the center of shaping, guiding and implementing technologies transforming medicine," said AMA officials.
WHY IT MATTERS
Without physician leadership and input, technology developers risk creating unintended burdens on medical professionals and risk consequences on patient care, according to the AMA.
A quarter of physicians remain more concerned than excited about the potential of augmented intelligence in medical practice, according to its most recent physician sentiment survey, the organization said.
Doctors' chief concerns are recognizing AI's data privacy risks, and reliability and safety concerns. They also expressed that without their input, AI tools and platforms will likely fail to reach their full potential.
"Augmented intelligence will be a defining force in the future of healthcare, but right now we are barely scratching the surface of its potential," said Dr. John Whyte, AMA chief executive officer and executive vice president, in a statement.
"Digital health tools are everywhere and the technology has limitless opportunity, but if you don’t understand clinical practice or clinical workflow, even the best tools will never be fully implemented," he said.
By capitalizing on growing enthusiasm, the AMA said its members can help to better incorporate AI technology into clinical workflows and allay lingering physician concerns.
To ensure AI fits into clinical workflows and physicians know how to utilize it, the AMA is directing its Center for Digital Health and AI to work with regulators, policymakers and technology leaders to develop:
- Policy and regulatory leadership that shapes benchmarks for safe and effective use of AI in medicine and digital health tools.
- Clinical workflow integration opportunities for doctors to hone AI and digital tools that enhance patient and clinician experiences.
- Education and training to equip physicians and health systems with knowledge and tools to integrate AI efficiently and effectively into practice.
- Partnerships across the tech, research, government and healthcare sectors to orient clinical AI innovations around patient needs.
THE LARGER TREND
About two-thirds of physicians have incorporated AI-driven tools into practice based on AI use cases, nearly doubling from 2023 to 2024, the organization said in February.
But nearly half (47%) of physicians surveyed said that increased regulatory oversight is needed to increase their trust in healthcare AI tools. Doctors overwhelmingly stated that they need data privacy assurances (87%) and do not want to be held liable for AI model errors in order to gain their buy-in.
Following the research, the AMA then developed an eight-step governance framework establishing AI accountability, oversight and staff training requirements for providers.
"Physicians must be full partners throughout the AI lifecycle, from design and governance to integration and oversight, to ensure these tools are clinically valid, ethically sound and aligned with the standard of care and the integrity of the patient-physician relationship," Dr. Margaret Lozovatsky, the AMA’s chief medical information officer and vice president of digital health innovations, told Healthcare IT News in August when the framework was released.
ON THE RECORD
"By launching this center, the AMA is leading in this space so physicians have a say in the technology and clinical care of the future," said Whyte in Monday's statement. "Our goal is to harness innovation responsibly and effectively, so it improves patient care and reduces unnecessary burdens on physicians."
Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
