Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance at Hackensack Meridian Health
Hackensack Meridian Health’s AI Governance Program ensures that every AI solution we adopt or develop undergoes a rigorous evaluation process, has strategic oversight and is continuously monitored.
We’ve established a governance framework to assess all AI and Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) across our network, aligning with national standards from organizations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Our centralized model promotes local innovation while maintaining consistency, safety and accountability.
Our AI Governance Framework
The AI Governance Steering Committee, the Clinical AI Advisory Group and the AI & Automation Working Group manage every AI solution at Hackensack Meridian Health. This centralized governance model establishes clear ownership, defined roles and enforceable policies to manage the full AI lifecycle, from ideation through implementation and monitoring.
Our AI lifecycle includes:
- Formal Review and Risk Assessment: All AI use cases, internal and vendor-developed, must undergo a structured evaluation to assess clinical impact, risk to patients, privacy considerations, and alignment with organizational priorities.
- Continuous Monitoring and Accountability: AI governance processes are embedded into every stage of the AI lifecycle - from intake to implementation and beyond.
- Oversight by Design: Ongoing reporting of performance, outcomes and risks to ensure that AI solutions remain effective, compliant and ethically grounded.
- Alignment with National Standards: Our framework draws from the best practices set by NIST, CISA and others to ensure our governance structures are robust, secure and forward-thinking.
Governance Leadership
The AI Governance Program is led by a multidisciplinary team of experts from across the network, including:
- Data Science
- Digital and Technology
- Clinical Documentation & Decision Support
- Human Resources & Employee Experience
- Enterprise Risk
- External Affairs
- Finance
- Legal
- Network Growth
- Network Strategy
- Nursing
- Operations
- Patient Experience
- Physician Services
- Population Health and Home Care
- Privacy and Compliance
- Quality and Safety
- Revenue Cycle Management
- Research and Innovation
- School of Medicine
Thought Leadership
Our leadership in this space was featured in Nature Digital Medicine through the article “An early pipeline framework for assessing vendor AI solutions to support return on investment.” Co-authored by HMH AI Governance subject matter experts, the piece outlines a practical, four-part model (strategic alignment, sponsorship, impact evaluation, and risk assessment) that equips health systems to adopt AI solutions with confidence, transparency, and accountability.
This approach underscores HMH’s role as a thought leader in AI governance, ensuring that every innovation we bring forward is safe, equitable, and transformative for patients and clinicians.