Executive Summary
The Health Management Academy, Microsoft and Nuance convened over 50 technology executives and practicing clinicians from leading health systems across the country to create the first iteration of the AI Maturity Roadmap. Featured in the March 2024 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the model allows health systems to gauge AI maturity across six key pillars (e.g., culture, governance, value, maintenance & operations, information architecture and business implementation). While there is sector-wide variation, most organizations find themselves in the “active” stage—meaning some experimentation with AI, mostly in a data science context.
How can my health system use the AI Maturity Roadmap?
A blueprint for maturity: Leaders may choose to follow the roadmap step by step, using each component and level as a sequential guide to the best way to achieve maturity within their health system. This approach can support health systems that begin at Level 1 across the board, or those that plan to launch their initiatives at a higher level from the start. They may use it to support work on a specific topic, such as Governance, or as a whole.
A compass for AI: The matrix can also be used as a wayfinding tool for health systems, providing a light framework for progress without dictating how they should approach or achieve success. The document will continue to evolve, establishing best practices and validated principles for AI deployment in health care settings.
A communication tool: Without alignment between C-Suite executives, those implementing the AI, and those using it day-to-day, deployments are rarely successful. The matrix can be a valuable document to bring into conversations between these parties, supporting the business case for investment in the technology and the broader cultural changes required.
To read the full report, download the PDF at the top of the page or click here.
Discussion Questions for Your Leadership Team:
How would we score our progress across the six domains for AI maturity (e.g., culture, governance, value, maintenance & operations, information architecture and business implementation)?
Of the six domains, where are we lagging and where are we potentially leading?
What’s our timeline for achieving the next level of maturity across each domain?
Do we have the right people leading our AI efforts across the organization to ensure we reach our timeline?
What organizational stakeholders do we need to engage with to ensure our AI efforts continue at the rate we’ve determined is right for our health system?