Why AI in Healthcare Must Be Tested

Think of visiting a doctor and finding out that the computer used to help figure out what’s wrong hasn’t gone through proper testing. Sounds worrying, right? That’s what a team at the University of North Carolina (UNC) found out about some of the new artificial intelligence (AI) tools being used in healthcare.

A major breakthrough

Sammy Chouffani El Fassi and Dr. Gail E. Henderson from UNC reviewed over 500 AI-based medical tools approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They discovered that nearly half of these (43%) didn’t have any shared reports showing how well they worked when used with actual patients. It’s like releasing a new video game without letting anyone test it – you’d have no clue if it works well or has issues!

Why it’s important

These tools are showing up more often in hospitals and clinics. They help doctors read X-rays, check lab results, and even make suggestions for treatment. Back in 2016, only two AI medical tools had FDA approval. Now, around 69 new ones get approved every year! That’s a big increase, and it’s important to check that they all work as expected.

How are these tools tested?

The researchers point out three key ways to find out if an AI medical device works properly:

Checking past data: This means using old records to see if the tool performs well. It’s simple but doesn’t always reflect current situations. 

Real-time testing: Here, the AI tool is tested while being used with patients. This method is more accurate but takes more time and effort. 

Randomized controlled trials: This is considered the best testing method. It compares results from patients using the tool to those who aren’t, to see what difference it really makes.

Some companies are having the right approach

While lots of tools haven’t gone through strong testing, a few companies are doing a better job. For instance, SOAPsuds AI Medical Scribe makes sure their tools are tested in actual healthcare settings. Their technology can record doctor-patient discussions with 90% accuracy and fits smoothly into most hospital software systems.

How SOAPsuds AI Medical Scribe stands out

Our AI systems can:

·       Turn doctor and patient talks into written notes

·       Support the medical billing process through coding

·       Provide suggestions for diagnoses and treatments on the spot

·       Assist nurses in collecting information before the doctor visit

Why this really matters

As AI tools continue to spread across healthcare, it's important to ensure they’re useful and safe. The UNC study suggests we should:

·       Be clearer about how these tools are tested

·       Rely on AI tools that show solid results in real hospital use

·       Keep learning better ways to check these tools’ effectiveness

Conclusion

Just like you wouldn’t want to play a buggy video game, we shouldn’t use AI tools in medicine that haven’t been tested well. When AI is carefully reviewed and confirmed to work, it can support doctors in caring for patients rather than making things harder.

SOAPsuds’ focus on real-world testing shows that with the correct methods, AI can be reliable and beneficial in medical settings. This kind of strong testing is what ensures AI tools help both doctors and the people they treat.