Building on her work as AHCJ’s health beat leader for Health IT since 2021, Karen Blum will take on a new beat: AI and Patient Safety. In this expanded role, Blum will guide coverage and develop resources to help members understand how artificial intelligence and related technologies are reshaping health care — and what those changes mean for patient safety.
“AI in health care is almost unavoidable now, from chatbots that text to remind us of upcoming appointments to ambient listening programs that record our encounters with clinicians and more,” Blum said. “Through this new opportunity, I aim to unpack some of the trends seen in this sector and how they can impact patient safety to help journalists better understand and report on them for their audiences.”
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving into clinical practice, powering tools that draft medical notes, analyze imaging, generate patient communications and support clinical decision-making. While these technologies promise efficiency and innovation, they also raise important questions about accuracy, bias, oversight and potential harm.
“As AI becomes embedded across specialties and care settings, it’s crucial that health care reporters understand how these systems work and their impact on patient safety, cost drivers, payer-provider interactions and the evolving landscape of online care,” said Kelsey Ryan, AHCJ’s executive director. “We’re excited for Karen to help journalists tackle this important topic.”
AHCJ’s health beats reporting tips, curated resources, expert interviews, webinars and analyses on various topics to help journalists navigate a fast-evolving landscape.
Planned topics for the new AI and Patient Safety beat include data security; diagnostic errors; the potential for AI to worsen or reduce inequities in patient safety; unintended consequences of AI-driven documentation and coding within electronic health records — particularly in relation to insurance coverage and reimbursement; and robust research findings related to AI and patient safety.
Special thanks to the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation for its generous support.
