Senator Carper Highlights Need for Responsible Use of AI in Health Care Industry

Today, at the Senate Finance Committee hearing “Artificial Intelligence in Health Care: Promise and Pitfalls,” U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) highlighted the importance of implementing AI responsibly in the health care industry. During the hearing, Senator Carper emphasized the numerous ways AI could benefit this industry, including significant improvements to provider burnout and patient experiences, while also cautioning against the misuse of this new technology.

Senator Carper called attention to the opportunity AI presents for combatting workforce challenges in the health care system:

“Strengthening the health care workforce is an issue of key concern to me and […] I consistently hear from providers back in Delaware […] and from health systems that recruiting and retaining their workforce is the number one issue that our health care system faces. […] With the growing AI use in health care, it’s important that this technology be deployed in a responsible way that bolsters our workforce, while improving patient experiences and hopefully [patient] outcomes.”

Senator Carper also cautioned that providers use this new technology responsibly:

“We hear AI referred to as a copilot. And as we learn of the ways that AI can support our health care system, we must ensure that our health care providers remain the pilot – not the copilot, but the pilot – of these incredibly powerful tools. […] We have seen health care leaders successfully deploy AI tools, including health care systems in Delaware and other places, in a way that has improved patient outcomes and mitigated provider burden.”

A video of Senator Carper’s questions at today’s hearing can be found here.

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