Standardizing the Future: SIIM and ACR Launch Groundbreaking AI Practice Parameter

The landscape of medical imaging reached a significant milestone last week as the American College of Radiology (ACR) Council officially approved the joint ACR-SIIM Practice Parameter for Imaging Artificial Intelligence (AI). Developed in close collaboration with SIIM, this framework represents the industry’s first comprehensive “operating manual” for the responsible deployment and governance of AI in clinical workflows. 

“Responsible use of AI in healthcare, particularly when dealing with critical patient data like medical imaging, is an ongoing process rather than a single event. It demands a dedicated team consistently applying processes supported by methods and technology. This collaborative effort between SIIM and the ACR transforms these foundations into practical guidance that any imaging practice can implement to improve patient care now.” 

— Nabile Safdar, MD, SIIM Board Chair 

The new parameter is designed as a roadmap for the entire imaging team, including radiologists, informatics professionals, IT teams, medical physicists, and administrators. It moves beyond the technical hype of AI, focusing instead on the practicalities of tool selection, pre-deployment evaluation, patient privacy, and the critical need for ongoing performance monitoring. 

From Science to Practice – The collaboration underscores SIIM’s central role in bridging the gap between informatics standards and clinical reality. By applying methodological precision to AI deployment, the imaging community is ensuring that these tools remain an asset rather than a liability. 

As SIIM and the ACR continue to engage with the FDA and Congress, this framework ensures that the informatics community remains at the helm of the future of radiology AI. 

This milestone marks a pivotal step toward ensuring AI strengthens radiology through governance, rigor, and collaboration. The imaging community now has a clear, shared blueprint for putting AI to work responsibly in clinical care.