AI Hype vs. Reality: PointClickCare’s Approach to Creating Trustworthy Tech

AI in healthcare is advancing quickly, but without the right safeguards, trust in the technology could erode just as quickly. How can that be addressed? PointClickCare is focusing on baking in trustworthiness into its solutions. Learn more.

Healthcare IT Today had the opportunity to sit down with Dean Slawson, VP of Advanced Technology at PointClickCare, at #HIMSS25 to learn more about the company’s AI efforts and considerate approach to integrating the technology into their platform.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust in AI is crucial. Even the most accurate AI models won’t be used if clinicians don’t trust them. Transparency and validation are key.
2. Rigorous testing prevents bias. The company follows published AI guidelines (like those from ASTP) and collaborates with researchers to keep its AI models fair and reliable.
3. Peer-reviewed research backs the tech. A JAMDA study validated PointClickCare’s predictive model, proving its real-world impact on hospital readmissions.

[Editor’s note. The link to ASTP’s AI guidelines are not available at the time of this article’s publication]

Trust in AI is Crucial

AI in healthcare holds immense promise, but without trust, it is just another piece of software clinicians hesitate to rely on. For AI to make a real impact, providers need confidence that it produces reliable, unbiased insights that truly support decision-making. That’s why PointClickCare is focused on building AI models that are transparent, rigorously tested, and grounded in real-world clinical data.

“AI is only as good as the trust people have in it,” said Slawson. “Even if we build a great model and it’s very accurate, if doctors and nurses don’t believe it’s helping them make better decisions, they simply won’t use it – and they won’t get better outcomes.”

One of the ways PointClickCare is proving its commitment to responsible AI is through its involvement with the Coalition for Health AI and compliance with ASTP’s AI guidelines. “We work closely with applied researchers, clinicians, product experts, and engineers to ensure our AI models are built responsibly,” Slawson stated.

By implementing rigorous bias testing, clear documentation, and real-world validation, the company ensures that AI isn’t just a black box but a trusted tool for healthcare providers.

Benchmarking their AI Results

PointClickCare recently published a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of American Medical Directors Association (JAMDA) evaluating its predictive analytics model for reducing hospital readmissions. Slawson was a co-author of that study.

“We benchmarked our model’s performance against real-world clinicians to ensure it was actually improving decision-making,” Slawson explained.

The conclusion of the study summarizes the effectiveness of their AI algorithm: “Machine learning models can accurately predict the likelihood of hospitalization or death within the next 7 days among Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) patients. These models do not require additional SNF staff time and may be useful in readmission reduction programs by targeting more frequent monitoring proactively to those at highest risk.”

Having concrete evidence published in a peer-reviewed study goes much further than unverified AI marketing-speak. This study shows the delivered (and measurable) value of AI while maintaining transparency about its capabilities and limitations.

A Word of Advice on AI

For healthcare leaders looking to integrate AI responsibly, Slawson offers a word of advice: “Get educated. Read journal articles, not just social media. Understand both the risks and the value.”

Getting clinicians to trust AI and use it is a real challenge. PointClickCare isn’t just developing AI tools; they’re proving their effectiveness through rigorous validation and open research. By publishing their findings in JAMDA, they’re giving healthcare professionals the confidence that AI can be a reliable partner in patient care.

If AI can help clinicians make more informed decisions, reduce administrative burden, and improve patient safety, then adoption will follow naturally. But that trust must be earned, and PointClickCare is showing that transparency is a great way to do just that.

Learn more about PointClickCare at https://pointclickcare.com/

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