AI in healthcare: from promise to practice

How can we ensure that AI tools actually make it into the consultation room or treatment process? That’s the focus of the white paper Advancing AI integration in healthcare, an initiative of the VU Campus Center for AI and Health — a collaboration between Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

The authors explain how AI can support healthcare professionals, for example in administrative tasks or clinical decision-making. But implementing these tools in practice is not straightforward. Many promising projects face technical, organizational or human challenges that prevent them from moving beyond the pilot stage. The white paper identifies key success factors for integration, including co-creation, transparency, monitoring, practical alignment with clinical workflows, and training for healthcare professionals.

According to AI scientist Mark Hoogendoorn, collaboration is essential: “AI should lead to better care, not just more efficient care. That requires close cooperation between developers, professionals and patients.” Amsterdam UMC physiotherapist Edwin Geleijn adds that trust is key: “An AI model needs to perform well, but I also need to understand why it makes a certain recommendation.”

The white paper offers concrete insights for researchers, healthcare professionals and policymakers looking to responsibly implement AI in practice. It also calls for greater collaboration across the healthcare sector, so that AI can move from promise to responsible application.

Read the full white paper on the Amsterdam UMC website: Advancing AI integration in healthcare