Amid growing concerns, and optimism, about AI’s use in diagnostics, a new AI and radiology focused quality assurance programme has been launched in the US.
The American College of Radiology (ACR) has launched the first national AI quality assurance programme for radiology facilities.
The ACR Recognized Center for Healthcare-AI aims outline the expert, consensus-based “building blocks” of infrastructure, processes and governance in AI implementation in real-world practice.
By working toward, and attesting to, compliance within the tenets of the programme, participation in ARCH-AI “can help radiology practices provide safe and effective implementation of AI products and help radiologists provide better patient care,” it said.
ARCH-AI site recognition criteria include establishing an interdisciplinary AI governance group, maintaining an inventory of AI algorithms with detailed documentation and ensuring adherence to security and compliance measures.
Other stipulations include engaging in diligent review and selection of AI algorithms, documenting use cases and training procedures and monitoring algorithm performance, including safety and effectiveness.
Sites must also contribute to the “Assess-AI” central AI registry for performance benchmarking.
Keith J. Dreyer, of the ACR’s Data Science Institute (DSI), said: “ARCH-AI can help radiology practices structure QA processes that help them plan for what can go wrong, including the development of good AI governance practices, acceptance testing and effectiveness monitoring of AI products to ensure they continue to function as expected over time.”
Radiology practices that complete the ARCH-AI process will receive an ACR Recognition badge to display in their waiting rooms and lobbies.
It is designed to demonstrate to their communities, patients, payers and referring physicians that they are committed to integrating AI in a safe, responsible manner that allows them to provide the best possible modern healthcare.
“ARCH-AI provides a great blueprint and assists radiology facilities with AI implementation,” said Bibb Allen Jr, the ACR DSI’s chief medical officer.
