Highlighting rural voices is imperative for fair, unbiased AI in healthcare
Last month at HIMSS24, a new consortium of healthcare leaders announced the creation of the Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network, or TRAIN, which aims to operationalize responsible AI principles to improve the quality, safety and reliability of AI in healthcare improve.
Network members include AdventHealth, Advocate Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Duke Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mass General Brigham, MedStar Health, Mercy, Mount Sinai Health System, Northwestern Medicine, Providence, Sharp HealthCare, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Microsoft as technology enablement partner.
In addition, the network partners with OCHIN, which serves a national network of community health organizations with systems, expertise, clinical insights and customized technologies, and TruBridge, a community health care partner and channel, to ensure that every organization, regardless of resources , has access to the benefits of TRAIN.
We recently sat down with Wes Cronkite, head of technology and innovation at TruBridge (formerly CPSI), to discuss why TruBridge decided to participate in TRAIN, why the voice of community health is important in initiatives like TRAIN, how rural and community healthcare organizations can prepare to integrate AI into their workflows, and what risks and benefits he sees.
Q. Why did TruBridge decide to participate in TRAIN?
A. With more than 46 million Because Americans live in rural areas, it is critical to support community healthcare through innovation and the delivery of modern technology. Rural healthcare deserves a place in the AI conversation. That’s why my team and I have a personal passion for advocating for the healthcare provider organizations we serve.
TruBridge has a 45-year history in community health care. TRAIN gives us the opportunity to further improve the communities we work with while leveraging our network of insights. By partnering with respected leaders such as Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Mayo Clinic, TruBridge can help innovate community healthcare through conscious AI development and implementation.
Our customer base has a diverse set of patients and data that is critical to ensuring AI solutions do not introduce biases, especially those that could negatively impact rural healthcare providers. The delivery of effective and responsible applications of AI is an essential part of TruBridge’s commitment to community care.
Q. Why is the voice of community health important in initiatives like TRAIN?
A. Rural communities have specific needs and considerations that should not be overlooked. Their voice is critical to the future of AI development in healthcare.
As I mentioned, millions of Americans live in rural areas, yet their needs are often left out of the broader health care conversation. Highlighting their voices is imperative to using fair, unbiased AI tools in healthcare.
For example, community health organizations need workflows that address the unique social determinants of health in rural America. By bringing the rural health lens to the table, we can adapt our processes to meet the needs of people in rural communities.
Q. How can rural and community healthcare organizations prepare to integrate AI into their workflows? What risks do you foresee? What benefits do you expect if it is properly integrated?
A. Preparing the workforce for AI implementation and adoption is crucial for successful integration into rural and community healthcare organizations. Training and retraining staff are essential steps that must be taken now. For example, staff must be ready to integrate AI into their workflows and be trained in new processes.
Secure data exchange and patient privacy are also important considerations. Through TRAIN we focus on building reliable and responsible technology. This includes focusing special attention and efforts on building platforms that meet healthcare privacy and secure data sharing standards in every healthcare environment.
From a benefits perspective, TruBridge sees numerous opportunities to alleviate clinical and administrative burdens through the responsible and safe use of AI in healthcare. If integrated properly, the technology will help healthcare organizations increase operational efficiency while delivering care more effectively.
Integrations give providers the opportunity to meet the needs of their communities while streamlining reimbursements and improving outcomes.
Q. Please share examples of how TruBridge is working with rural healthcare providers to implement AI technologies tailored to their unique needs.
A. Innovation is critical to our partnerships with rural healthcare providers. Every year,
TruBridge hosts the Dream Factory, an internal think tank where we tackle real challenges
by our customers and build new, creative solutions. It’s a unique approach to meeting our customers exactly where they are and customizing our solutions to reduce the problems they encounter.
For example, we routinely see rural healthcare providers struggling with staff shortages and training losses. Often, physicians are forced to jump into the provider setting without having the proper tools to enable efficient care delivery.
To meet this need, the Dream Factory serves as a pilot for generative AI implementations that will accelerate training on specific RCM and EHR systems. This training helps streamline care delivery and eliminate the time spent learning new technology so healthcare providers can care for patients faster and better.
We find meaningful ways AI can help facilitate high-quality patient-physician interactions throughout the care journey.
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