Catholic Health Services (CHS), a ministry of the Archdiocese of Miami serving South Florida families for four decades, has begun a full review of its artificial intelligence governance framework. President and CEO Mary Jo Frick said the initiative comes as the growing use of AI in clinical documentation, patient engagement, and operational workflows raises questions about how to preserve the human element in care. "The patient is a person, not a number in a bed, and it's important that we remember that," Frick said.
Frick drew inspiration from Pope Leo XIV's recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which urges leaders to protect human dignity as technology advances. She fears that over-reliance on automation can strip away the personal connection that comes from direct patient interaction. "If you rely completely on AI, you're simply working with a computer," she said. "AI cannot take the place of what you learn when you're physically taking care of a patient."
Human oversight remains essential
While AI can analyze lab results and propose treatment options, Frick insists that these outputs require careful human review. Physical therapists at CHS's specialty rehab hospital, for instance, must look at AI-generated recommendations and adjust them for the actual patient they are treating. "While AI is great to analyze lab results or to suggest a course of treatment for physical therapy, the physical therapists at our specialty rehab hospital need to look at those suggestions and adapt them to the patient in front of them," she said. Frick also believes patients should be told when AI contributes to a healthcare decision, especially if it influences a clinical choice. She warned that algorithmic bias, if left unchecked, could deepen existing disparities rather than improve health equity. Guidance grounded in AI for Healthcare can help organizations craft governance structures that center patient safety.
Ethical governance and staff input
Before adopting any new technology-including electronic health record (EHR) systems-CHS subjects it to multiple layers of review. The board, its Ethics Committee, Chief Medical Officer Brian J. Kiedrowski, MD, and the archdiocese staff all examine proposals to ensure alignment with the organization's mission. "The archbishop is the corporate soul of our board, and everything we do at CHS is accountable to him," Frick said. CHS is currently selecting a new EHR system and has invited nurses and other clinicians to scrutinize the product's capabilities. Staff have questioned whether nursing notes can be adapted for individual patients, and further testing will follow. "We want AI to help our staff think outside the box, but we don't want it to take the place of their own personalized work," Frick added. For leaders tasked with similar oversight, the discipline of AI for Executives & Strategy offers structured methods for aligning technology with ethical priorities.
Why this matters for healthcare professionals
As AI becomes more embedded in care delivery, the CHS approach surfaces a clear demand for healthcare professionals: advocate for governance models that keep human dignity front and center. The organization's experience shows that involving clinicians in technology testing, requiring multiple ethical reviews, and refusing to let algorithms operate without human oversight can prevent the personal touch from eroding. Professionals who understand both the capabilities and limits of AI-and who push back when automation threatens patient connection-will be essential in ensuring that technology supports, rather than replaces, quality care.
For more information, visit CatholicHealthServices.org or call (954) 484-1515.
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