A Physician's Checklist for Evaluating Any AI Tool
Before the pilot, ask these questions about data, validation, workflow, and liability.
Priya Natarajan, MBAHealthcare Operations · Sept. 23, 2026 · 7 min read
The pace of AI products entering healthcare means physicians are being asked to evaluate tools they have never been trained to assess. A short checklist brings structure to that decision.
The core questions
- What population was the tool validated on, and does it resemble yours?
- Where does patient data go, and who can see it?
- How does it fit into the existing workflow, not an ideal one?
- Who is accountable when it is wrong?
If a vendor cannot answer clearly, that is an answer.
Priya Natarajan, MBA
Priya Natarajan has run operations for multispecialty groups and writes The Script Pad's practice management column.
This article is for professional education and does not replace clinical judgment. Treatment decisions should be based on the individual patient and current guidelines.
