The evolving landscape of health and social care necessitates robust standards for the integration of digital care and artificial intelligence (AI). ISQua EEA’s new Principle on Digital Care and Artificial Intelligence Systems is designed to support the use and governance of digital care and artificial intelligence (AI) systems by health and social care providers. It emphasises governance, security, and monitoring to ensure these systems support safe and effective care delivery.
In the Principles, the term digital care is used to cover a range of care delivery approaches and technologies, including but not limited to remote monitoring of patients/service users, smart phone apps, or virtual consultations etc.
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to dynamic systems which use approaches such as machine learning and rule-based algorithms, developed from large data sets, to support, for example, diagnosis or individualised medicine.
This new Principle focuses on:
- Structured Digital Care Implementation: requiring health and social care organisations to establish documented processes for the assessment, costing, and ongoing management of digital care systems.
- Accessible and Equitable Technology: requiring organisations to consider the accessibility ofdigital care services for those who use and access their services, taking factors such as their access to internet services and digital literacy into account.
- Robust Technical and Regulatory Framework: requiring organisations to have access to technical expertise to support the effective use of digital care systems and to introduce and manage AI systems in line with any national or regional legislation or regulations on the use of AI (where these exist), or in their absence available best practice guidance.
- Continuous Monitoring and Accountability: requiring health and social care organisations to monitor and evaluate the use ofAI systems to deliver safe, high-quality services, with mitigation of any unintended consequences.
- Transparent and Collaborative Approach: requiring organisations to consult with staff involved in delivering care prior to the introduction of AI systems to gain an understanding of the practical implications and staff training needs, to consider accountability arrangements for all care and treatment delivered with support from AI systems, and to inform patients/service users when aspects of their care are delivered with the use of AI systems.
Incorporating the criteria within this Principle into sets of health and social care standards will facilitate the responsible and effective integration of digital care and AI in health and social care delivery, ultimately enhancing patient/service user safety, improving care quality, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.
You can learn more about what’s included in this new Principle here.
