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The practical implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in medicine

Nature Medicine volume 25, pages 30–36 (2019)Cite this article

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Abstract

The development of artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies in medicine is advancing rapidly, but real-world clinical implementation has not yet become a reality. Here we review some of the key practical issues surrounding the implementation of AI into existing clinical workflows, including data sharing and privacy, transparency of algorithms, data standardization, and interoperability across multiple platforms, and concern for patient safety. We summarize the current regulatory environment in the United States and highlight comparisons with other regions in the world, notably Europe and China.

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Fig. 1: Potential roles of AI-based technologies in healthcare.

Debbie Maizels/Springer Nature

Fig. 2: Integration of patient health information at multiple interfaces.

Debbie Maizels/Springer Nature

Fig. 3: Conceptual diagram of the FDA precertification for SaMD.

Debbie Maizels/Springer Nature

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded in part by the Innovative team (B185004102) and Backbone talent (B185004075) training program for high-level universities of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Jianxing He, Sally L. Baxter.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, China

    Jianxing He & Kang Zhang

  2. Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China

    Jianxing He & Kang Zhang

  3. Shiley Eye Institute and Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Sally L. Baxter & Kang Zhang

  4. Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Sally L. Baxter

  5. San Diego Veterans Affairs Health System, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Sally L. Baxter & Kang Zhang

  6. Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab, Beijing, China

    Jie Xu

  7. Yidu Cloud Technology Inc., Beijing, China

    Jiming Xu

  8. Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Xingtao Zhou

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  1. Jianxing He
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Correspondence to Jianxing He or Kang Zhang.

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He, J., Baxter, S.L., Xu, J. et al. The practical implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in medicine. Nat Med 25, 30–36 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-018-0307-0

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