Lessons From One FQHC's Experience With Artificial Intelligence

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) presents opportunities and challenges for health systems, especially safety-net providers like Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Safety-net systems may need help with structures and processes for assessing AI applications. To address this need, this article describes Moses-Weitzman Health System's (MWHS) initial steps toward establishing an AI program that defines intentional and informed AI use.

MWHS established two AI-focused workgroups: one of senior leaders and a cross-departmental group, providing a collaborative space for exploring potential applications, creating guidelines, and discussing concerns. With limited existing templates, MWHS crafted an AI policy emphasizing transparency, privacy, and security, outlining the criteria for implementing AI tools that interact with patient data and ensuring compliance with current regulations. Current AI-related projects focus on automating routine tasks, and research interests include evidence frameworks for making decisions about adopting AI tools and evaluating ambient listening technologies.

Lessons learned in building our AI program are that effective implementation requires tech-savvy leadership, cross-department collaboration, and cautious differentiation between general automation and generative AI. Challenges include the need for agile budgeting, careful vendor vetting, and safe testing environments to assess AI benefits and risks responsibly.

MWHS's AI program underscores a cautious but proactive approach to AI, aiming to balance innovation with operational and ethical considerations, and offers a model for other safety-net systems beginning their AI journeys.