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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Sustainability Questions to Consider When Adopting AI Solutions

Thinking about sustainability early is an important part of adopting AI in rural healthcare settings. Rural healthcare leaders can consider several key questions to plan for the long-term use of AI tools.

  • Purpose and Timeline – What are the organization's goals for the AI tool? Is it intended to be a permanent, fully integrated solution that is part of the organization's clinical workflow, or a time-limited or pilot tool to address a specific need?
  • Resources – What resources are needed for sustainability? Examples include funding, staff training and technical assistance, data infrastructure, IT support, vendor contracts, cybersecurity, and ongoing maintenance.
  • Governance – Who is responsible for oversight and decision-making related to AI adoption and use? This may include clinical leaders, administrators, staff, and governing boards. Who should be engaged in setting direction, in monitoring risk, and ensuring accountability? What governance structures can help align AI use with the healthcare organization's priorities?
  • Partners and Funding – What types of partners, funders, or organizations are needed to support sustainability? Partners may include healthcare organizations, clinicians, staff, technology vendors, academic partners, government agencies, regional collaboratives, payers, and other funders.
  • Staff Support – How will providers and staff be involved in supporting the sustainability of the AI tool? Understanding how clinicians and staff will be involved in the process is important for building trust and awareness of the tool and exploring its uses, provider satisfaction, and outcomes.
  • Policy Landscape – How do federal, state, and local policies and practices affect sustainability? This includes regulatory requirements and policies related to reimbursement, data governance, monitoring, and privacy.
  • Assessing Outcomes – How will outcomes, value, and return on investment be demonstrated over time? This includes considering how to collect information for evaluation.