AI tools are everywhere, and many of them can genuinely save your staff time. But in a healthcare practice, a careless setup can put patient information at risk. Before adopting any AI tool, walk through this checklist.
Before you start
- Define the task: what exactly should the AI do, and does it need patient information at all?
- Start with tasks that do not involve health information, such as general questions, directions or scheduling requests.
- Name a person responsible for reviewing how the tool is used.
If patient data is involved
- Use only tools whose provider will sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
- Never paste patient information into free, consumer AI chat tools.
- Limit access to the people who need it, with multi-factor authentication.
- Keep logs of who used the tool and for what.
Keep people in control
- Review AI output before it reaches a patient or a record.
- Make it easy for patients to reach a person at any time.
- Be transparent: let people know when they are talking to an AI assistant.
Train your team
Most risks come from everyday habits, not from the technology itself. A short training session on what can and cannot be shared with AI tools goes a long way.
Remember: HIPAA compliance is the responsibility of each covered entity. We help you implement the technical safeguards and support your compliance program.
Want to see what this could look like in your business? Book a free consultation or call us at (786) 232-9282.
