AI governance in healthcare: Key issues for health system boards

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly moved from pilot programs to essential roles in US hospitals, transforming care delivery and management. Adoption is outpacing governance, prompting regulation from federal agencies, state legislatures and enforcement bodies, raising expectations for oversight, transparency and accountability. Health system boards must adapt governance as AI evolves, focusing on proactive leadership instead of reacting to issues later.

AI heightens the stakes for how boards fulfill their duties of care, loyalty and obedience. Boards must strive for clear accountability for AI decisions, visibility into where AI is deployed, guardrails before tools are implemented and ongoing monitoring of performance and risk. Effective AI governance, supported by documented processes and regular reporting, is now essential to protect patient safety, compliance and institutional integrity while enabling responsible innovation.

Read our full publication, "Managing AI governance in healthcare: What boards need to know."