– The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announces the first-ever ANSI-accredited standard for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, developed by more than 50 organizations from tech giants to healthcare leaders.
– CTA convened 52 organizations – including IBM, Philips, BlackBerry, Doctor on Demand, Humetrix, American Medical Association, and AdvaMed – to develop this standard that provides a foundation to better understand AI technologies and common terminology so consumers, tech companies and care providers can better communicate, develop and use AI-based healthcare technologies.
More than 50 organizations – from major tech giants to startups and healthcare industry leaders – convened by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) have developed the first-ever ANSI-accredited standard for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The standard is part of CTA’s new initiative that will set a foundation for implementing medical and healthcare solutions built on AI.
Growing Importance of AI in Healthcare
As the healthcare system deals with clinician shortages, an aging population and the persistence of chronic diseases in the US, technologically driven solutions, such as AI, will increasingly be used to meet clinician and patient needs, the group notes. Today, AI-related terms are used in different ways including telehealth and remote patient monitoring, leading to confusion for healthcare organizations
“AI will play a major role in driving efficiency in healthcare and will support clinicians in making more precise diagnosis, offer personalized treatment and better guidance towards improved outcomes,” said Pat Baird, regulatory head of global software standards at Philips and co-chair of the working group. “This implies that AI will be used for decision support and decision making, which stresses the need for professionals to be able to take ownership, apply judgment and empathy. Transparency and a common language will be key to enable the proper and safe functioning of AI.”
Pat Baird, regulatory head of global software standards at Philips
Establishing a Standardized Framework for Understanding AI in Healthcare
To address this problem, CTA announced the working group with 30 members less than a year ago, which now includes a wide range of decisionmakers from 52 organizations and member companies to develop a standard built on consensus. The standard – 11 definitions and characteristics – provides a framework for better understanding AI technologies and common terminology so consumers, tech companies and care providers can better communicate, develop and use AI-based healthcare technologies.
A broader AI committee at CTA also published an ANSI-accredited standard that addresses the pervasiveness of AI-enabled technology across the entire consumer technology industry. The standard defines over 30 terms including machine learning, model bias, artificial neural network and trustworthiness.
Among the definitions, the standard includes highly debated terms such as “assistive intelligence,” which the group defined as a category of AI software that “informs” or “drives” diagnosis or clinical management of a patient, however, the healthcare provider makes the ultimate decisions before clinical action is taken. Other definitions include terms like de-identified data, synthetic data, remote patient monitoring, and patient decision support system.
Participating Organizations
Organizations participating in the standard include:
| 98point6 Inc. |
| AdvaMed |
| Amazon |
| American Association for Clinical Chemistry |
| American Medical Association |
| American Telemedicine Association |
| AT&T |
| Aural Analytics |
| BlackBerry |
| Brookings Institution |
| CarePredict, Inc. |
| Connected Health Initiative |
| Doctor on Demand |
| Duke-Robert J. Margolis, MD, Center for Health Policy |
| Federation of State Medical Boards |
| Fitbit |
| Ginger |
| Health Innovational Alliance |
| Humana |
| Humetrix |
| IBM |
| Intel Corporation |
| Isowalk |
| LG Electronics |
| Livongo Health |
| Magic Leap, Inc. |
| Matrix Advisors, LLC |
| Mercedes Benz – A Daimler Brand |
| Microsoft Corporation |
| MindMaze S.A. |
| National Urban League Washington Bureau |
| NeuroSky |
| Osso VR |
| Philips |
| Reemo |
| SDI Technologies, Inc. |
|
SHIFT Performance Global The Joint Commission The Omega Concern, LLC |
| United Spinal Association |
| Valencell |
| Validic |
| Verizon |
| Volar Health, LLC |
| VOXX International |
| Xperi |
“This standard creates a firm base for the growing use of AI in our health care—technology that will better diagnose diseases, monitor patients’ recoveries and help us all live healthier lives,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “This is a major first step – convening some of the biggest players in the digital health world – to help create a more efficient health care system and offer value-based health care to Americans.”
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA
For more information, the standard is now available to everyone here.
