HIMSS24 participants will look at the rise of artificial intelligence in healthcare from every angle. Ram Rimal, manager of data science, AI and research for UNC Healthcare and Mike Plesh, executive director of information technology for UNC Health, will present in their session titled: “Scaling artificial intelligence governance in a large healthcare system.”
As fundamental as it may seem, effective AI management is getting lost behind data priorities in healthcare, according to a recent AI report from Deloitte in healthcare. The research firm had asked healthcare leaders about their progress in generative AI and concluded that data-centric approaches may be too limited and may not be sufficiently focused on consumer sentiment and employee needs.
Wider adoption of AI requires a strong AI governance process for all AI applications Healthcare IT news Rimal and Plesh asked by email how UNC Health got started and what challenges it faced in collaborating between clinical, operational and technical departments.
Q. How did UNC’s AI governance journey begin and where is it now?
A. UNC Health’s AI governance journey began in 2016 with the creation of the Enterprise Analytics and Data Sciences team.
Initially, we implemented an internal informal governance process through peer reviews. UNC Health has an interdepartmental oversight group consisting of 19 disciplines to guide strategic alignment, accelerate AI adoption and implement a responsible AI framework.
Q. What are some key challenges healthcare systems face when launching an AI governance framework?
A. Key challenges facing healthcare systems include the changing definition of AI, the resource and training requirements for establishing AI governance as a discipline, and the choice between centralized or federated governance models.
Q: How has the collaboration of clinical, operational and technical teams advanced UNC’s AI governance process?
A. UNC Health values a wide range of voices in decision-making, including in AI governance. Collaboration among clinical, operational and technical teams helped increase adoption and achieve strategic alignment.
Q. What strategic tips will you share during your session at HIMSS24?
A. During our session at HIMSS24 we share the following strategic tips:
- Plan for wider adoption of AI.
- Join state and federal government agencies.
- Provide AI education to teammates and leaders.
- Define a support model to stay at the forefront of innovation.
The session, “Scaling Artificial Intelligence Governance Across a Large Healthcare System,” is scheduled for March 14 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in room W304A at HIMSS24 in Orlando. More information and registration.
Andrea Fox is editor-in-chief of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.