American Heart Association Launches AI Assessment Lab to Validate Predictive Algorithms

Strategic Insights -

The American Heart Association has launched an AI Assessment Lab in partnership with Dandelion Health to validate predictive algorithms for cardiovascular conditions and related diseases. The lab aims to provide a framework for patients to understand what's happening with algorithmic decision-making and to ensure safe and effective implementation in hospitals. This effort is part of the association's 100-year-old history as a medical specialty group, lending credibility to algorithms that have met safety and efficacy standards.

Key Takeaways:

  • The AI Assessment Lab will assess algorithms that predict the risk of heart conditions or events, as well as models for related conditions like kidney disease or diabetes.
  • Dandelion Health will review algorithms both pre- and post-FDA clearance, providing a comprehensive review process.
  • The lab will produce an impact assessment that quantifies the economic impact of the algorithm on future customers, using data on the cost of the condition and the model's predictive accuracy.
  • Model developers will pay for the review by the lab, and the AHA has a few models in the pipeline for assessment.
  • The AHA and Dandelion will embark on post-deployment monitoring of the models as they are implemented into hospitals.
  • The AHA hopes to bridge the digital divide by giving small community hospitals a way to understand the economic impact of implementing an algorithm and spreading the benefits of AI to rural and underserved communities.
  • The AHA has a long history of setting guidelines in the medical field, including writing guidelines for statins and other treatments.

Statistics:

  • 14 million de-identified patient records for research use.
  • 3000 hospitals nationwide tracked for adherence to AHA standards.
  • 100-year-old history as a medical specialty group lending credibility to algorithms.
  • A few models in the pipeline for assessment through the AI Assessment Lab.
  • Models will be reviewed pre- and post-FDA clearance.

Sources:

  • Jennifer Hall, chief of data science and analytics at the American Heart Association, in an interview.
  • Elliot Green, CEO and co-founder of Dandelion Health, in an interview.