Health systems across the world are starting to experiment with generative artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT. However, the question of whether they should regulate the use of the technology remains. Healthcare IT leaders were asked their opinion on the matter and shared their thoughts.
Robert Eardley, CIO of University Hospitals in Cleveland, suggested a governance process for other net-new technologies should also apply to chatbots like ChatGPT. Any AI-based response should be reviewed and approved thoroughly by humans. Darrell Bodnar, CIO of North Country Healthcare in Whitefield, New Hampshire, stated that there is no doubt that AI language models have the potential to revolutionize the way we work, but we need to have policies and guidelines governing the use of the technology. Sunil Dadlani, Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Transformation Officer of Atlantic Health System in Morristown, New Jersey, emphasized that healthcare IT leaders need to consider regulatory landscapes surrounding data security and ensure that proper policies and guidelines are in place governing the use of AI. They also need to educate team members about the risks and capabilities of these new technologies.
Paul Conocenti, CIO of Montage Health in Monterey, California, expressed cautious optimism about the value of the technology but stressed that they would need to validate use cases and monitor for accuracy and security compliance. All IT leaders agreed that healthcare systems should proceed with caution and closely monitor the use of ChatGPT to ensure accuracy, security, and compliance with data protection regulations.
The potential benefits of generative AI in the healthcare sector are huge, especially at a time when labor markets are stretched thin in every service and vertical. But it is essential to proceed cautiously and ensure proper policies and guidelines governing the use of the technology. ChatGPT and similar technologies must be integrated in productive and secure ways, and healthcare systems must take all necessary steps to achieve this.
