The Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) recognises the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and natural language processing in reshaping health and care. Interoperability is key to enabling the potential benefits of AI to be realised more fully. It must be possible to exchange information between systems, to understand the context of the information being exchanged and information must be structured and coded in a way that it can be analysed. But interoperability has been a major challenge.

Despite the drive to structure and code data in a way that it can be used to support analysis for both direct care and secondary uses through the development and promotion of standards, we are some distance behind where we should be. Information is still commonly being shared in formats that require additional interpretation and coding. There is a huge opportunity to advance interoperability using AI to interpret and organise certain data held in clinical databases into standardised formats in suitable circumstances. This would enable better sharing of data between systems and make more data available for AI tools supporting clinicians in their practice for example for diagnosis, triage, clinical decision support and interpreting vast amounts of data from medical devices such as continuous glucose monitors augmented with other data from the electronic record.  

As we embrace this digital evolution, it is imperative that information standards evolve in tandem to ensure safety, accuracy, and interoperability. This position statement deals specifically with AI as it relates to our information record standards.  Our position is captured in the following points which will be used to guide our work: 

1. Commitment to Safety and Accuracy: As AI algorithms become integral to people’s care, from diagnosis to treatment recommendations to support for daily living, the PRSB emphasizes the need for rigorous health and social care information standards. These standards must ensure the accuracy and reliability of data inputs and AI-driven outputs. 
2. Interoperability: The PRSB champions the development and adoption of universally recognised standards. This facilitates safe and seamless data exchange between systems, ensuring that AI tools can function effectively across different platforms and care settings. The PRSB believes that AI can support interoperability by organising complex data against standard specifications. 
3. Ethical Use of Data: AI applications rely on vast amounts of data. The PRSB upholds the need for standards to be implemented in a way that respects patient confidentiality, ensures informed consent, is transparent about how the data will be used in AI applications, supports professionals by providing clarity about accountability for AI outputs and clinician decisions based on those outputs and maintains data security. 
4. Inclusivity: AI models should be trained on diverse datasets to avoid biases. The PRSB promotes standards that advocate for data inclusivity, ensuring AI tools are equitable and effective for all patient groups. 
5. Personalisation and person-centred care: PRSB recognises that the experience of care is as unique as every individual.  The strength of our standards in promoting and encouraging personalised and person-centred care will not be lost or diminished through the introduction of AI. 
6. Continuous Learning and Adaptation: AI in care is a rapidly evolving field. The PRSB commits to periodically reviewing and updating health and social care information standards to remain aligned with technological advancements.  This will include exploring how AI can help improve our processes to produce ever better information standard products. 
7. Collaboration: The PRSB believes in fostering collaborations with technology developers, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders. Joint efforts are crucial to shape health information standards that cater to real-world needs while maintaining the highest standards of care. 
8. Education and Advocacy: The PRSB and its members will play a pivotal role in educating health and care professionals about the significance of information standards in the realm of AI and related technologies. Moreover, we will advocate for the broader adoption of these standards across the sector.  Similarly, we have a role to play in educating the public about the relationship and impact of AI on our work in information record standards. 
9. Evaluation:  PRSB will commit to regularly evaluating the impact of the ongoing spread of information standards on AI and vice versa. 
10. Regulation: PRSB supports the development of a regulatory framework that ensures safety and efficacy of AI applications but does not stifle innovation and aligns with the nature of AI to improve and learn over time. 

Conclusion: 

As we stand on the cusp of an AI-driven revolution in health and care, PRSB is committed to remaining forward looking and open-minded to ensure that information standards and AI jointly deliver the most rapid advances and the best and safest outcomes for people. Our aim is to harness the potential of AI while ensuring the safety, integrity, and equity of the care people receive.