How we’re approaching AI at Children’s Minnesota

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform healthcare, from new medicines and faster diagnosis of rare diseases to personalized treatment of cancers and genetic disorders. As these capabilities mature, they will help us tackle disease in a whole new way.

As a parent, a pediatrician and someone who’s spent most of my career at Children’s Minnesota, I also know that when families come to us, they’re looking for more than a diagnosis or medication. They’re looking for people they can trust with the most important people in their lives: their children.

That’s why, when I think about the use of AI in healthcare, I start with trust.

No matter how high-tech, quality pediatric care is built on human trust. Families need to believe in the people caring for their child. Our teams also need to be able to trust the tools they use to deliver that care. So, as we think about how AI might help us care for kids, we need to continually ask ourselves – can it help us preserve an environment of trust?

One way to answer that question is through something called the “trust equation,” developed by Charles Green. It says trust is built through credibility, reliability and intimacy, and is strengthened when we focus on the needs of others. In other words: Do our patients and their families believe we know what we’re doing? Do they feel that we’re dependable? Do they feel seen and understood? And do they believe we are prioritizing their needs and not on our own?

These questions matter in every healthcare setting. But they matter even more in pediatrics, where a child is at the center of every decision.

Credibility

Families trust us when they believe in our expertise, our professional judgment and our experience providing safe, high-quality care. When it comes to AI, credibility means we can’t simply adopt a tool because it looks promising or works somewhere else. Children are not little adults. Their bodies, development and needs are unique.

So, we need to carefully consider questions like: Has this tool been tested in a setting like ours? Does it work for children of all ages? Does it work for the diverse patients and families we serve?

Credibility also means being honest about what AI can and cannot do. It can never replace clinical judgment, compassion or the human connection families expect and deserve.

Reliability

Trust also depends on reliability. Families need to know that our care is consistent, thoughtful and dependable. Our teams also need to know that the tools they use will perform safely and predictably, in every circumstance.

That’s why our approach to AI will be measured and responsible. In some cases, we may lead. In others, we may be a cautious follower, watching where technology is creating meaningful improvements, and only adopting tools once we’re sure they’re reliable for pediatric care.

Intimacy

In the trust equation, intimacy is about whether people feel understood and valued. This is essential for healthcare. So, an important question we’re asking about AI is: Will it help our teams be more present with patients and families?

Healthcare professionals are burdened by too much time on tasks that take them away from direct patient care; it’s a major contributor to burnout in our field. If technology can safely remove some of those tasks, and our teams can be more present with patients and their families, everyone will benefit.

Focus

The final part of the trust equation is whether people believe we’re focused on their needs and not our own. When it comes to AI, will it help a child receive better care? Will it improve a family’s experience? Will it reduce burdensome, administrative work for our teams so they can focus more on the needs of our patients and their families?

If the answer is no or not yet, then it’s not the right use of AI for us.

Centering kids and trust

Children’s Minnesota is the only comprehensive health system in Minnesota devoted entirely to kids. That means we have both an opportunity and a responsibility. We need to innovate because children and families deserve care that’s always improving. And we need to approach AI cautiously, because the trust we have with patients and families is too important to risk.

We’ll continue listening to our patients and their families. We’ll continue listening to our teams who care for them. We’ll continue looking for tools that can help us deliver care that is more credible, reliable, personal and focused on the child, always dedicated to doing what’s best for kids.