UCLA Health Launches Center to Evaluate AI Safety in Clinical Practice
"The results of our research on AI's capacity to improve clinical workflow and enhance patient care have been promising thus far."
UCLA Health just announced the launch of the Innovations and Outcomes Validation of AI Center, a research hub dedicated to evaluating whether AI tools are safe, effective, and useful in real-world clinical practice, rather than only in controlled development settings.
The center, known as INOVAi, addresses what UCLA Health describes as one of the most significant gaps in health care AI today.
"By rigorously evaluating AI tools across the settings where patients actually receive care, we can help ensure this technology strengthens clinical practice and works reliably for all patients," said Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health and CEO of the UCLA Hospital System.
INOVAi will support evaluation across the full AI lifecycle, covering early usability and workflow testing through prospective clinical trials and pragmatic implementation studies, according to the press release.
The center is positioned among the first programs in the country focused specifically on the evaluation and implementation science of AI in health care, as opposed to AI development itself.
A randomized trial led by Dr. Paul Lukac, UCLA Health's chief AI officer, and Dr. John Mafi, associate professor of medicine and co-directors of INOVAi, found that AI scribes significantly reduced the time physicians spent writing clinical notes.
The trial also identified improvements in physician cognitive load, work exhaustion, and overall well-being, along with enhanced patient engagement through greater connectivity between physicians and patients during visits, according to the press release.
"The results of our research on AI's capacity to improve clinical workflow and enhance patient care have been promising thus far," Lukac said. "While there still is considerable work to be done, our new program has the potential to further hone the discipline the field needs as we continue to build a shared language for what counts as evidence."
INOVAi is managed through the UCLA Department of Medicine and operates in alignment with the UCLA Center for AI and SMART Health and Dr. Katherine Andriole's role as associate dean for Health AI Strategy and Innovation.
Dr. Steven Dubinett, dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said the center strengthens a coordinated ecosystem for AI innovation that is rigorous, ethical, and evidence-based.
Key Takeaways
- UCLA Health launches INOVAi to evaluate AI safety and effectiveness in clinical settings.
- Center addresses critical gaps in health care AI beyond controlled development environments.
- Research shows AI scribes can significantly reduce physicians' note-writing time.
- INOVAi is among the first U.S. programs focused on AI evaluation in healthcare.
- Center aims to strengthen clinical practice and ensure reliable technology for all patients.