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When the Trump Administration released its artificial intelligence action plan, titled "Winning the Race," in July, the stated goals were American AI dominance, human flourishing and economic growth.
While the plan emphasizes accelerating AI innovation, pledging to overhaul federal guidelines for AI safety, nurture model development and build the necessary infrastructure, it does not provide a comprehensive framework for regulating AI.
That ambiguity could be "messy" for the healthcare sector, according to Lora Sparkman, partner and vice president of patient safety and quality at Relias, a tech firm that aims to drive provider performance and patient outcomes.
But ultimately, it could improve patient safety and care quality, Sparkman, who is also an experienced registered nurse, explains in this week's episode of HIMSSCast.
The rapid data exchange and information that AI promises have enormous benefits for U.S. patients, where wrong diagnoses and delays are too common and care outcomes fall below those of peer nations. "It happens in over 800,000 patients annually," but AI can change that and improve care paths, she says.
"Change would be good for the U.S. healthcare system," she said. "Patients can actually win in this scenario."
However, the pressure of a federal "hammer" on faster AI uptake will strain providers, staff and patients even as it hastens needed change.
Sparkman explains why participating in the efforts of AI Centers of Excellence – developing bodies where researchers, startups and established tech innovators can rapidly deploy and test AI tools that the Trump AI Action Plan directs federal agencies to regulate – is essential to help build buy-in and trust from the medical community.
This episode is brought to you by athenahealth.
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Talking points:
- Surviving the ambiguity of AI action.
- Governance and workflow cautions.
- Balancing the addition of AI regulation in an already "complex and burdened environment."
- Bias and accuracy concerns for physicians and patients.
- Adding change into existing workflows.
- Why participate in the federal 'sandboxes.'
More about this episode:
Trump AI Action Plan addresses slow-to-adopt sectors like healthcare
What health IT leaders think about the new federal AI Action Plan
Q&A: The Conference Board responds to Trump administration's AI Action Plan
Trump revokes Biden's executive order on responsible AI development
HIMSSCast: Forecasting AI and health IT regulation under a Trump White House
