New research from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health sheds light on how hospitals in the U.S. are using artificial intelligence to perform daily tasks.
The use of AI tools for administrative tasks, such as billing and appointment scheduling, is widespread. However, procedures for evaluating bias in the systems are inconsistent, which can lead to unequal experiences for patients.
The research team analyzed responses from 2,425 hospitals that participated in the 2023 American Hospital Association Annual Survey, which explores differences in AI adoption, use and evaluation capacity. The study, published in Health Affairs, found:
- Approximately 65% of U.S. hospitals reported using AI-assisted predictive models, most commonly to predict inpatient health trajectories, identify high-risk outpatients and facilitate scheduling.
- While 61% of hospitals evaluated their predictive models for accuracy, only 44% conducted similar evaluations for bias.
- Hospitals with more financial resources and technical expertise were more likely to have and evaluate AI models than under-resourced hospitals or those using external developers.
"The growing digital divide between hospitals threatens equitable treatment and patient safety," said Paige Nong, lead author and an assistant professor in the School of Public Health. "Many better-funded hospitals can design models tailored to their own patients, then conduct in-house evaluations of them. In contrast, hospitals with fewer resources are buying these products 'off the shelf,' which may not reflect the needs of local patients."
Future research will explore the prevalence of AI applications such as ambient scribes and chatbots in hospital settings. The research team will also work with diverse organizations to analyze how they are preparing for, thinking about and using AI with the goal of informing policy and practice.
Funding was provided by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
About the School of Public Health
The University of Minnesota School of Public Health improves the health and wellbeing of populations and communities around the world by bringing innovative research, learning, and concrete actions to today's biggest health challenges. We prepare some of the most influential leaders in the field, and partner with health departments, communities, and policymakers to advance health equity for all. Learn more at sph.umn.edu.
