By: John Glover (MBA)
You’ve probably heard of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it is becoming a normal part of our everyday lives. It’s being installed into our phones, computers and is taking over big industries like finances and aviation. Right now, 77% of businesses are already using AI, or are considering implementing it into their business practices. The healthcare industry is also not immune to the impact of AI. Many organizations are beginning to invest in new technologies to make things easier and more efficient for those on the frontlines. But where does it end?
It’s important for companies to do research on AI and how it could negatively impact their internal systems. AI is good for many things, but it should not do more harm than good. There is an “evil” side of AI, and we cannot let it take over.
Security Impacts
The healthcare system is all about taking care of people during their most vulnerable times. That’s why there are rules and regulations set in place to protect their privacy and data. But what happens when their personal information gets leaked? Chaos takes over, and patients lose trust with their healthcare providers. Well, this unfortunately has been the reality for some places and AI is the cause of it.
As AI becomes a more valuable advancement in society, it will also become a bigger target for hackers and cybercriminals. Many AI systems are heavily protected, but it only takes one barrier to fall for everyone’s information to get leaked. These security threats are a huge issue, and it’s necessary for healthcare institutions to implement intense security measures to prevent this from happening.
“AI companies want to sell their AI into healthcare and make their technology a core function in the way many things are run in hospitals. I would strongly recommend hospital leaders reject this sales pitch and push back against these companies as they don’t have first hand experience working in healthcare and their solutions are not ready to be turned on in an environment where a mistake costs people’s lives,” says DoorSpace CEO Sarah M. Worthy.
AI can be a good resource for healthcare systems to use, but it’s also important to understand that it still is fairly new, so security risks are higher as AI continues to adapt to threats.
Lack of Transparency
Another big obstacle the healthcare system faces daily, is creating trust between employees, patients and the healthcare leaders in charge of making decisions. In order to create this sense of trust, there needs to be transparency on all fronts and sometimes using AI can make this goal a little harder.
AI is a great tool to use when it comes to diagnosing or treating patients, because the search engine aspect gives them all the information they need to know in seconds. This is a positive part of this technology. On the other hand, AI can be used as a tool to make decisions and this is what can create issues. Healthcare leaders should not rely fully on AI to help them keep business operations running. They can use it as a guide, but it’s important to practice transparency when doing so.
“AI can deliver benefits to certain areas of healthcare delivery, but we are still early in implementation and learning how best to make use of this novel technology. Leaders should start with AI in a small pilot project that has a low impact on patient care. There are a number of areas in healthcare organizations that don’t directly touch on patients where AI could be adding measurable value,” says Worthy.
AI should not replace humans and take on their most complex responsibilities. It should be used as a resource, and healthcare organizations should disclose how they are using it internally to promote transparency on all fronts.
The Future of AI
AI is not inherently bad overall. In fact, it actually has a lot of positives for the healthcare system like automating paperwork, and streamlining training for employees. However, it’s important to err on the side of caution when using technology that is continuously adapting and advancing. There is an “evil” side of AI, and organizations need to be made aware of this, so they can use it for good rather than harm. The healthcare industry does not need to become a victim of this technology.
Published By: Aize Perez
