Artificial intelligence may have useful health care applications

Artificial intelligence is a major topic of discussion in many aspects of our world. Health care is no different. How it should be used, if it should be used and other ethical questions are all part of the discussion. The reality is, though, that people use AI every day and may not even know it. But the larger question is – what can it mean for health care?

Many physicians and hospital staff recognize the potential to apply AI to help improve care, but they’re also wary about how the tools will be regulated and have concerns about possible misuse, including bias and privacy issues.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved more than 600 machine-learning medical devices, according to an April 2024 American Medical Association article, “AI is already reshaping care; Here’s what it means for doctors.”

The AMA has developed new advocacy principles to address the development and use of health care AI. The principles emphasize the following:

• Health care AI oversight
• When and what to disclose to advance AI transparency
• Generative AI policies and governance
• Physician liability for use of AI-enabled technologies
• AI data privacy and cybersecurity
• Payer use of AI and automated decision-making systems

You can read the full article here.

The World Health Organization issued its first global report on AI in health care in 2021, titled Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health. WHO predicts that AI could lead to tremendous benefits in patient care.

The WHO report notes that AI is already being used in wealthy countries to speed diagnoses, help with clinical care, strengthen research and support public health interventions such as outbreak response.

Addressing concerns about privacy and misuse, WHO raised issues about equity. The WHO report notes, “AI systems should therefore be carefully designed to reflect the diversity of socio-economic and health care settings. They should be accompanied by training in digital skills, community engagement and awareness-raising….”

WHO outlines six principles to ensure AI works for the public interest:

• Protect human autonomy.
• Promote human well-being and safety and the public interest.
• Ensure transparency, explainability and intelligibility.
• Foster responsibility and accountability.
• Ensure inclusiveness and equity.
• Promote AI that is responsive and sustainable.

You can read the article here.

As artificial intelligence progresses, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will continue to explore potential uses that could help streamline administrative functions and improve health outcomes for our members.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.