American Telemedicine Association publishes principles of AI

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) has published its "Artificial Intelligence Principles," emphasizing that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare must prioritize accountability, transparency, and safety. These principles align with President Joe Biden's executive order issued on the same day, which introduced new standards for safety, security, privacy, and equity in AI.

ATA supports AI as a valuable tool for both patients and healthcare providers and advocates for the responsible use of AI with the following key principles:

Transparency and Explainability: AI applications should provide clear disclosures that enable patients, physicians, regulators, and the public to understand how data is used.

Safeguards Against Bias: AI in healthcare should work to eliminate, rather than exacerbate, healthcare disparities resulting from bias and institutional racism.

Clear Regulatory Framework: A unified AI regulatory framework at the federal level is crucial to ensure consistent compliance nationally, with states aligning their rules with federal standards.

Economic and Workforce Evolution: Healthcare professionals, both current and future, should be educated about the importance of AI integration and best practices. They should actively participate in AI adoption decision-making processes.

Privacy: AI privacy policies should mirror the privacy policies and practices within the broader healthcare system.

The ATA's Data Work Group is tasked with developing a plan to ensure the secure and protected use of personal health information in AI applications. These efforts aim to enhance patient and provider trust, safety, and the effectiveness of AI adoption in healthcare, including telehealth.

President Biden's executive order also directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a safety program to receive and address reports of harms or unsafe healthcare practices related to AI, although specific details of this program were not provided in the announcement. The ATA expresses its readiness to collaborate with the administration, Congress, and other stakeholders to advance the responsible and appropriate use of AI in healthcare.