TL/DR –
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in medical institutions for diagnostics, treatment plans, and administrative tasks. However, the ethical use of AI is a concern for these institutions, leading to the formation of oversight committees to ensure its safe, fair, and effective use. As AI continues to develop, it is expected to disrupt healthcare further, potentially leading to faster diagnostics, personalized preventative care protocols, and increased access to healthcare.
Medical Institutions Ensuring Ethical Use of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly employed in medical settings for tasks ranging from content creation to critical patient alerts. These AI applications, such as automated EKG readings and patient outcome predictions, are often overlooked as routine activities. However, organizations like OSF HealthCare and the University of Chicago Medicine are continually innovating with AI.
Current AI Applications in Healthcare
AI implementation in healthcare is already reducing documentation burdens, improving diagnostics, predicting patient outcomes, analyzing large datasets, determining patient populations, customizing treatment plans, and speeding up clinical trial recruitment. Notably, AI has already shown benefits in diagnosing conditions like cancer. University of Chicago Professor Maryellen Giger, for example, developed a technology using AI to detect cancerous lesions on breast MRIs.
The Future of AI in Healthcare
Looking forward, AI is expected to revolutionize many aspects of healthcare. Alan D. Roth, CEO of Oxford Drug Design, believes computational advancements will significantly reduce development timelines for new drugs. Other predictions include improved diagnostic accuracy, predictive analytics for disease onset, and personalized preventative care.
Overseeing AI Usage
As AI continues to proliferate in healthcare, questions of ethical use arise. Medical institutions, such as the University of Chicago Medicine, employ dedicated bioethics committees to oversee AI usage. The process includes identifying needs, assessing impacts, pilot testing, and continual monitoring. “Interdisciplinary collaboration across various departments and stakeholders is critical to maintaining an aligned, holistic oversight approach,” says Sachin Shah, chief medical information officer at the University of Chicago Medicine.
AI and Patient Experience
Apart from efficiencies for healthcare providers, AI may also empower patients and improve their healthcare experience. As administrative and operational tasks become streamlined, patients may pay less for healthcare and gain more access to physicians. Jonathan Handler, senior innovation fellow at OSF HealthCare, believes that AI will significantly improve the quality, accessibility, equity, and experience of care for all.
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