American Medical Association Launches AI Governance Toolkit for Healthcare
The American Medical Association (AMA) has introduced a new toolkit to help healthcare systems establish governance frameworks for the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This move responds to a sharp rise in AI adoption among physicians since 2023 and addresses key concerns around liability, patient safety, and ethical deployment.
Why This Matters
AMA’s research over the past two years revealed a significant growth in physicians’ use of AI tools, including large language models like generative pretrained transformers. To support healthcare providers, AMA developed the STEPS Forward Governance for Augmented Intelligence toolkit with assistance from Manatt Health.
This toolkit helps organizations identify and prioritize risks related to AI, ensuring patient safety and equitable care. It guides practices on when and how AI should be used, emphasizing governance policies that avoid unnecessary complexity.
AMA’s Pillars of Responsible AI Adoption
- Establish executive accountability and organizational structure
- Form a working group to set priorities, processes, and policies
- Assess existing policies for AI relevance
- Develop clear AI-specific policies
- Define procedures for project intake, vendor evaluation, and risk assessment
- Update planning and implementation processes to include AI considerations
- Create oversight and monitoring mechanisms
- Support organizational readiness for AI integration
The toolkit also includes resources such as a downloadable model AI governance policy that can be tailored to fit existing structures and responsibilities. Dr. Margaret Lozovatsky, AMA’s chief medical information officer, highlighted the urgency of governance as AI tools evolve faster than hospitals can adopt them.
Current Trends in Healthcare AI
AMA emphasizes that clinical experts should lead the evaluation of AI applications to ensure their quality and clinical validity. Transparency is vital; healthcare organizations need to communicate clearly how AI impacts medical decisions and patient care at the point of interaction.
In 2024, AMA published The 2024 Future of Health: The Emerging Landscape of Augmented Intelligence in Health Care, based on a survey of over 1,000 physicians, expert interviews, and specialty society discussions. The survey found that although AI use was not yet universal, it jumped from 38% of physicians using AI tools in 2023 to nearly 70% in 2024.
Physicians reported increased use of AI for tasks such as visit documentation, discharge summaries, care plans, and medical research. Despite concerns over AI errors and liability, adoption of AI nearly doubled within a year — a notably fast pace for healthcare technology.
Nearly half of surveyed physicians identified enhanced oversight as the top regulatory need to build trust in AI tools. AMA advocates for governance policies that minimize risks to both patients and physicians, aiming to meet patient safety standards, promote health equity, and align with the quadruple aim.
Final Word on AI Governance
“Setting up an appropriate governance structure now is more important than it’s ever been because we’ve never seen such quick rates of adoption,” said Dr. Lozovatsky.
Healthcare organizations planning to implement or scale AI solutions will find AMA’s toolkit a practical resource to establish responsible frameworks that protect patients and clinicians alike.
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