The American Medical Association’s new, physician-led artificial and augmented intelligence resource hub aims to guide the technology’s safe, effective, and ethical use, as well as other innovative technologies in health care – with physicians in the driver’s seat.
The Texas Medical Association supports the use of augmented intelligence when used appropriately to support physician decision-making, enhance patient care, and improve public health, per TMA policy. TMA’s policy on augmented intelligence in health care asserts the technology should be used as a tool set with physicians at the lead, rather than tools utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), which use data sets to make decisions.
AMA’s Center for Digital Health and AI was created to educate and support physicians on the use of AI and augmented intelligence in medicine, while giving them a voice in how technology is used to enhance patient and clinician experiences.
“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. Our goal is to harness innovation responsibly and effectively, so it improves patient care and reduces unnecessary burdens on physicians,” said AMA CEO and Executive Vice President John Whyte, MD, in a press release.
According to AMA, the Center for Digital Health and AI will:
- Work with regulators, policymakers, and technology leaders to shape benchmarks for safe and effective use of augmented intelligence in medicine and digital health tools;
- Create opportunities for physicians to shape augmented intelligence and digital tools so they work within clinical workflows and enhance patient and clinician experience;
- Equip physicians and health systems with knowledge and tools to integrate augmented intelligence efficiently and effectively into practice; and
- Build partnerships across the tech, research, government, and health care sectors to drive innovation aligned with patient needs.
The new resource hub has the potential to harness physicians’ growing interest in AI. TMA’s most recent health information technology (HIT) survey found Texas physicians are cautiously optimistic AI will reduce electronic health record and administrative burden. Physicians also reported feeling hopeful AI could offer solutions to the onerous task of compiling, submitting, and receiving approval for prior authorization requests.
The survey found that 56% of the respondents believe AI will have a positive and negative impact on medicine.
That ambivalence is why, last year, TMA added AI consultants to its Committee on HIT and Augmented Intelligence. These members were tasked with evaluating the use and benefits of augmented intelligence in patient care to make physicians stronger as patient advocates. The consultants helped develop education and resources that are now available on TMA’s AI webpage.
For more information on innovative health care technologies, visit TMA’s Health Information Technology webpage.
Alisa Pierce
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1469