Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), the largest comprehensive health network in New Jersey, has become the first health system in the United States to earn The Joint Commission’s Responsible Use of AI in Healthcare (RUAIH) certification, a press release issued on 10 August 2026 said.
Certification underscores governance and safety requirements
The Joint Commission, a US-based hospital accreditation body, partnered last year with the nonprofit Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) to accelerate development and adoption of AI best practice guidance across the American healthcare system, the statement said. HMH’s certification followed an evaluation of the network against core domains that form the foundation for responsible AI use in clinical settings.
According to the release, HMH built a comprehensive framework to govern and monitor how AI tools are used across its network. Key elements of that framework include:
- Formal AI governance and oversight structures to guide decision-making about AI deployment.
- Data security and patient privacy safeguards designed to protect health information used by AI systems.
- Processes to identify, assess and mitigate risks and bias in AI tools.
- Ongoing monitoring to ensure AI tools continue to perform safely and effectively.
- Transparency and education so patients can understand when and how AI may be used in their care.
- Role-specific and general AI training for staff and clinicians to improve literacy and support safe use.
The Joint Commission’s evaluation covered each of these domains, the release said. It noted that HMH combined technical safeguards with governance processes and a programme of continual assessment and staff education to qualify for RUAIH certification.
“Organizations must ensure the use of AI is guided by strong governance, rigorous oversight, and an unwavering focus on patient safety,” Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, chief nursing executive and executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations with The Joint Commission, said in the statement.
What the certification means for clinicians and patients
The certification signals that a large, multi-hospital network has met externally assessed standards intended to balance innovation with patient protection. The Joint Commission’s framework emphasises limits and controls as much as technical capability, stressing that AI must be continuously monitored for safety, equity and performance.
For clinicians, the release highlighted the importance of education. HMH provides both general AI literacy and role-specific training so staff can explain to patients how AI tools support clinical decisions. For patients, the certification aims to improve transparency about the use of AI in care pathways.
While this development is US-based, it is relevant to South African health leaders and hospital administrators who are beginning to consider AI governance. The core themes identified by The Joint Commission — governance, privacy, bias mitigation, monitoring, transparency and training — are applicable regardless of jurisdiction and could inform local policy and procurement decisions.
| Core domain | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Governance and oversight | Guide AI decision-making and accountability |
| Privacy and data security | Protect patient information used by AI |
| Risk and bias mitigation | Identify and reduce unfair or unsafe outcomes |
| Monitoring | Ensure tools perform safely over time |
| Transparency and education | Support patient understanding and clinician competence |
Health systems in South Africa that are exploring AI should take note of the emphasis on robust governance and workforce readiness. Without clear oversight and ongoing evaluation, AI tools that perform well in development can produce unintended harms when deployed at scale or when data quality differs from the training environment.
Experts quoted in the release framed the certification as recognition that innovation must be accompanied by safeguards. The Joint Commission commended HMH for demonstrating what it described as a responsible approach to AI adoption while advancing innovation in patient care.
Patients and clinicians should view such certification as one piece of assurance: it indicates that an organisation has processes in place to manage risk, but it does not remove the need for clinician judgment or informed consent in individual cases. Readers with health concerns should consult their doctor or clinic rather than relying on AI tools for diagnosis or treatment decisions.
This development is one to watch as healthcare systems globally confront the challenges and opportunities of AI. Regulatory and accreditation frameworks are likely to play an increasing role in shaping how these technologies reach patients.
