More than 50 organizations convened by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) have developed ANSI-accredited standard for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. This standard, part of CTA’s new initiative on AI, is the first in a series that will set a foundation for implementing medical and healthcare solutions built on AI.
“This standard creates a firm base for the growing use of AI in our healthcare—technology that will better diagnose diseases, monitor patients’ recoveries and help us all live healthier lives,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “This is a major first step – convening some of the biggest players in the digital health world – to help create a more efficient health care system and offer value-based health care to Americans.”
CTA announced the working group with 30 members less than a year ago, which now includes a wide range of decision makers from 52 organizations and member companies to develop a standard built on consensus. The standard – 11 definitions and characteristics – provides a framework for better understanding AI technologies and common terminology so consumers, tech companies and care providers can better communicate, develop and use AI-based health care technologies.
A broader AI committee at CTA also published an ANSI-accredited standard that addresses the pervasiveness of AI-enabled technology across the entire consumer technology industry. The standard defines over 30 terms including machine learning, model bias, artificial neural network and trustworthiness.
“So far, common terminology has defined the intent of use — and that’s one of the most significant challenges in developing standard application of AI,” said Rene Quashie, VP, policy and regulatory affairs, digital health, CTA. “As health systems and providers use AI tools such as machine learning to diagnose, treat and manage disease, there’s an urgent need to understand and agree on AI concepts for consistent use. This standard does exactly that.”
As the healthcare system deals with clinician shortages, an aging population and the persistence of chronic diseases in the U.S., technologically driven solutions, such as AI, will increasingly be used to meet clinician and patient needs, the group notes. Among the definitions, the standard includes highly debated terms such as “assistive intelligence,” which the group defined as a category of AI software that “informs” or “drives” diagnosis or clinical management of a patient, however the healthcare provider makes the ultimate decisions before clinical action is taken.
"AI will play a major role in driving efficiency in healthcare and will support clinicians in making more precise diagnosis, offer personalized treatment and better guidance towards improved outcomes,” said Pat Baird, regulatory head of global software standards at Philips and co-chair of the working group. “This implies that AI will be used for decision support and decision making, which stresses the need for professionals to be able to take ownership, apply judgment and empathy. Transparency and a common language will be key to enable the proper and safe functioning of AI.”
Other definitions include terms like de-identified data, synthetic data, remote patient monitoring and patient decision support system.
Participating organizations include:
· 98point6 Inc.
· AdvaMed
· Amazon
· American Association for Clinical Chemistry
· American Medical Association
· American Telemedicine Association
· AT&T
· Aural Analytics
· BioIntelliSense
· BlackBerry
· Brookings Institution
· CarePredict, Inc.
· Connected Health Initiative
· Doctor on Demand
· Duke-Robert J. Margolis, MD, Center for Health Policy
· Federation of State Medical Boards
· Fitbit
· Google Inc.
· Ginger
· Health Innovational Alliance
· Humana
· Humetrix
· IBM
· Intel Corporation
· Isowalk
· LG Electronics
· Livongo Health
· Magic Leap, Inc.
· Matrix Advisors, LLC
· Mercedes Benz - A Daimler Brand
· Microsoft Corporation
· MindMaze S.A.
· National Urban League Washington Bureau
· NeuroSky
· Osso VR
· Philips
· Reemo
· SDI Technologies, Inc.
· SHIFT Performance Global
· The Joint Commission
· The Omega Concern, LLC
· United Spinal Association
· Valencell
· Validic
· Verizon
· Volar Health, LLC
· VOXX International
· Xperi
