Governance key to sustaining AI initiatives within health systems
UCI Health chief medical information officer says engaging C-suite, IT, key stakeholders is critical to success
IN THE NEWS: “If you don’t have governance, artificial intelligence initiatives can fall apart,” said Dr. Deepti Pandita, FACP, FAMIA, chief medical information officer and the vice president of clinical informatics at UCI Health. She spoke with HealthcareIT News about the appeal of AI and the importance of engaging with executive leadership prior to adoption.
“It’s important to engage with the C-suite to discuss the concept of governance and why it’s important from an enterprise standpoint to review and approve every AI solution before deployment.”
“Working closely with IT, and engaging with stakeholders from multiple departments, such as nursing, operations and risk and compliance, allows us to evaluate if the technology is transparent and transferable. Plus, what is relevant now might not be six months from now – that’s why a rigorous governance process is so important.”
She also discussed the importance of using a critical eye when considering AI solutions and deploying them at an enterprise level.
“It’s important to identify a problem first and then look for an AI solution that will help to resolve the problem. Ultimately, understanding if a problem is something that end users are really grappling with and not just an idea will help to prevent an AI solution from failing.”
Pandita is a national leader in the field of clinical and medical informatics. At UCI Health, one of California's largest academic health systems, she drives AI governance, digital transformation and clinician efficiency initiatives.
Pandita’s digital solutions have improved the health of communities, eased the cognitive burden of clinicians and promoted the wellness of the clinical workforce. Her work has also reduced the average patient stay in the hospital, saved costs and improved operational efficiencies.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).