The pediatric AI readiness framework: bridging evidence to practice in pediatric artificial intelligence

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare Technology
• Clinical Informatics
• Artificial Intelligence in Medicine

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) offers significant potential for advancing pediatric healthcare, including early diagnosis and personalized treatments.
• However, the unique needs of children require a specialized approach for AI integration in healthcare settings.
• Existing AI guidance often overlooks the specific challenges of implementing these technologies in pediatric environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Pediatric AI Readiness (PAIR) Framework, a checklist designed for evaluating and implementing AI tools in pediatric healthcare.
• To support clinicians, leaders, regulators, and developers in the responsible adoption of AI in pediatric settings.
• To bridge the gap between AI innovation and its practical, ethical application in child healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Pediatric AI Readiness (PAIR) Framework, a pediatric-focused implementation-readiness checklist.
• Organization of readiness considerations into seven key domains: ethics, data representativeness, validation, workflow, economics, adaptability, and reporting.
• Focus on institutional and workflow readiness for real-world AI tool deployment.

Main Results:

• The PAIR Framework provides a structured approach to AI implementation readiness in pediatric care.
• It addresses critical areas such as ethical governance, data representativeness, rigorous validation, and workflow integration.
• The framework emphasizes child-centric design and collaborative governance for responsible AI application.

Conclusions:

• The PAIR Framework is essential for the safe and effective integration of AI in pediatric healthcare.
• Prioritizing child-specific considerations ensures AI tools meet the unique needs of young patients.
• Responsible AI implementation through frameworks like PAIR can lead to improved pediatric health outcomes and futures.