The American Medical Association (AMA) introduced its Center for Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to empower doctors in shaping the future of healthcare technology.
The center’s focus is to involve physicians in the creation and deployment of AI tools for healthcare. It aims to integrate these tools within clinical workflows and provide medical professionals with the necessary knowledge to use AI effectively. The initiative also seeks to foster collaboration among the healthcare, technology, research, and government sectors to promote innovation.
Additionally, the center will offer a platform for physicians to collaborate with regulators, technology leaders, and policymakers. Together, they will develop standards for the safe and effective use of AI and digital health tools.
John Whyte, M.D., the AMA’s executive vice president and CEO, highlighted the untapped potential of augmented intelligence in healthcare. He emphasized that while digital health tools are growing in popularity, they must be understood and integrated into clinical practice for true effectiveness.
Whyte continued by explaining that the AMA’s new initiative ensures that physicians play a pivotal role in determining the future of health technology. The goal is to use AI innovation in ways that enhance patient care while minimizing the burden on healthcare providers.
Recent AMA surveys show a growing interest in health AI among physicians. These surveys indicate that the average number of digital health tools used by doctors increased from 2.2 in 2016 to 3.8 in 2022. Moreover, physicians’ enthusiasm for health AI has risen, with 35% expressing more excitement than concerns about the technology in 2024.
Key factors driving further AI adoption among physicians include strong data privacy guarantees, integration with electronic health records (EHRs), and clear feedback mechanisms, according to the AMA.
As more physicians adopt AI, the need for clear guidelines becomes more urgent. Following the Trump administration’s rollback of AI-related regulations, the healthcare industry has stepped up to establish safe AI practices.
However, the Trump administration has shown resistance to some of these initiatives. Specifically, the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) has faced criticism, with officials claiming the group is limiting AI innovation in healthcare.
