University Offering Training Programs For Healthcare Workers To ‘Be Up To Speed’ In AI

Northern Arizona University’s College of Health and Human Services announced Thursday it is now accepting applications for two AI training programs for healthcare employees involved in public and clinical health.

The goal of the programs is to give healthcare workers “the knowledge and skills they need to build AI tools that can gather and analyze the massive amounts of health data already available and use those tools to provide more personalized care to patients and communities,” according to an announcement from NAU published in SignalsAZ.

“It’s not replacing the physician; it’s allowing you to know more and make a more informed choice,” Program Director Tim Curry said in a statement. “It’s allowing us to take the vast amount of data that we have and learn more than we’ve been able to in the past.”

NAU did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Both online training programs can be used by students based in NAU’s Flagstaff, Arizona campus and across the state as well as for employees who desire further education, according to the news release. No prior coding experience is required for enrollees.

“We’ve spoken to multiple hospital groups, and they see a need for this,” Curry stated. “Employees need to be up to speed on how these tools work and what they can do.”

The university’s announcement comes as AI has started becoming more widely implemented in  the U.S. healthcare sector. An American Medical Association (AMA) survey released in March notably found that over 80% of U.S. physicians utilize AI tools professionally.

“AI has quickly become part of everyday medical practice,” AMA CEO and Executive Vice President John Whyte said in a statement. “Physicians see real promise in its ability to support clinical decisions and cut down on administrative burden. But as this technology advances, it is critical that augmented intelligence be designed to enhance—not replace—physicians.”

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