AI in Preventive Medicine

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and our lives is rapidly growing. ACPM must ensure our specialty leads the way to ensure AI is used effectively, safely, ethically and equitably. To do this, we should consider training and core competencies. These include AI and machine learning fundamentals, data literacy, ethical considerations and bias, regulatory and legal aspects, clinical integration of AI tools, interdisciplinary collaboration, continuous learning and adaptation, and impact on health equity. By gaining knowledge in these areas, preventive medicine physicians can become informed leaders who utilize AI tools effectively and contribute to shaping the future of AI in healthcare to be ethical, equitable and impactful.

Preventive medicine specialists, with their understanding of biostatistics, epidemiology, health services management, environmental health, occupational health, clinical preventive medicine and the social determinants of health, are uniquely positioned to guide policy and implement AI in ways that enhance public health and equity. Preventive medicine specialists can use their expertise to advocate for policies that ensure AI's ethical, equitable and effective use in healthcare and our communities. They can help develop guidelines prioritizing patient safety, privacy and data security while promoting the integration of AI technologies that enhance public health outcomes. AI can be used for disease surveillance and control, and preventive medicine physicians can leverage their knowledge in epidemiology to oversee the implementation of AI systems designed for this purpose. AI can help predict disease outbreaks, model disease spread and identify at-risk populations, enabling timely interventions.

Through their skills in health services administration, preventive medicine physicians can guide the deployment of AI in optimizing health service delivery, resource allocation and program evaluation. AI can streamline operations, reduce costs and improve patient outcomes by predicting patient needs and managing care more effectively. Preventive medicine specialists can also apply AI to monitor and control environmental and occupational health risks. AI tools can analyze patterns in environmental data to forecast public health risks and monitor workplace conditions to prevent occupational injuries. Preventive medicine specialists can lead the integration of AI into clinical practice to support decision-making in preventive medicine. AI can assist in diagnosing early stages of diseases, predicting patient risks and customizing health promotion and disease prevention strategies. With a deep understanding of social determinants of health, preventive medicine specialists can ensure AI tools are used to address rather than exacerbate health disparities. This includes deploying AI to improve access to care and health outcomes across different population groups.

In conclusion, preventive medicine physicians are well-positioned to guide policy and implement AI in ways that enhance public health and equity. By gaining a foundational understanding of critical areas related to AI, they can contribute to shaping the future of AI in healthcare to be ethical, equitable and impactful.

ACPM is developing an AI Certification curriculum to move this forward. If you are interested, please send an email to education@acpm.org so we can include you in the effort. If you have any questions, please get in touch with me (hrippen@msn.com).

ACPM has developed a Article Intelligence and Digital Health Special Interest Group (SIG). If you are interested in joining the SIG, email membership@acpm.org so we can include you in future communications.