Transforming Pediatric Care Through AI: Bridging the Digital Divide in Health Informatics

Health informatics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly influencing pediatric health care delivery across diverse health system contexts. These technologies offer opportunities to improve diagnostic accuracy, personalized treatment approaches, and access to care globally. This viewpoint examines how health and public health informatics frameworks, when integrated with AI technologies, may help address persistent challenges in global pediatric care delivery. This paper is a viewpoint informed by selected published studies and international digital health guidance rather than a systematic review. Evidence from clinical implementations suggests that AI applications embedded in standardized electronic health records can facilitate improved pediatric diagnostic processes. For instance, machine learning-based algorithms to diagnose serious bacterial infections among febrile infants have shown high diagnostic accuracy and reduced unnecessary invasive procedures in certain clinical contexts. Case studies from the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network decision rules, neonatal intensive care units, and autism screening programs reflect diverse applications of AI-enabled clinical decision support across pediatric settings. However, there are concerns regarding implementation due to limitations in interoperability of health information systems, gaps in data standardization, inadequate digital infrastructure in resource-limited settings, and issues related to algorithmic bias and equitable access. We argue that strategic development of interoperable health information systems, standardized data governance frameworks, and equitable digital infrastructure is essential to responsibly realize the potential of AI-enhanced pediatric care at scale.