Agentic AI is coming to healthcare fast. You’re probably already being asked to review tools that claim to reduce staff workload, speed up clinical decisions, or provide around-the-clock patient support. Many of these tools are autonomous agents, systems that can take actions or make decisions without direct human instruction.
If that makes you pause, it should. Because as the technology changes, so does your responsibility.
If you’re part of procurement, compliance, or legal, you have a responsibility to ensure you’re asking the right questions during the buying process, and your current software contract templates almost certainly won’t cut it. Keep in mind that these tools don’t just process data; they make decisions that affect patients. That means new clinical, reputational, and regulatory risks for your organization.
At the same time, not engaging with agentic AI at all is also a risk. Hospitals and healthcare networks are under pressure to reduce cost, increase throughput, and solve staffing shortages. Many agentic tools promise real gains. Ignoring this shift could leave your institution behind, making it less efficient, less scalable, and possibly even less safe if competitors adopt better diagnostic or triage systems.
This blog lays out what to watch for when vendors offer agentic AI for high-risk health applications. It also gives you key questions you can ask throughout the process to protect your organization, and shows how conformity assessments can help you separate serious vendors from risky ones.
Red Flag 1: Lack of Clear System Boundaries
Agentic systems don’t operate like traditional software. If a vendor can’t clearly explain what the system does (and does not do), that’s a major concern. You need to understand where the AI ends and human oversight begins.
Ask vendors:
- What are the limits of autonomy for this agent?
- Under what conditions is human intervention required?
- How does the system log or report autonomous actions?
- Can you provide a clear system map showing where decisions are made and by whom?
Why it matters: Without clear boundaries, your organization could be liable for outcomes the vendor can’t even explain. That’s a legal and patient safety risk you don’t want to inherit.
Red Flag 2: Vague Language Around Monitoring and Overrides
You may have heard the term “human in the loop.” Vendors love to say it. But do they really know what it means? Unless they can show you exactly how and when humans intervene, it’s just a slogan.
Ask vendors:
- What specific override mechanisms exist for this system?
- Are monitoring functions real-time or retrospective?
- Who is notified if the system’s recommendations are ignored or followed against protocol?
- How are override events logged and reviewed?
Why it matters: You’re on the hook for ensuring there’s a way to stop or reverse harmful actions, so true visibility is essential.
Red Flag 3: Missing Traceability for Training Data and Model Behavior
A system trained on flawed or biased data can cause harm — and your patients won’t care that it was the vendor’s fault. Traceability is a foundational requirement, not a nice-to-have.
Ask vendors:
- Can you trace and document the data sources used to train this system?
- How do you test for bias or performance degradation?
- What safeguards are in place to detect model drift?
- How frequently is the model retrained, and what triggers it?
Why it matters: If something goes wrong, you need to be able to investigate and explain it. Otherwise, you’ll face scrutiny from regulators, media, and your own leadership.
Red Flag 4: Inflexible or Opaque Update Policies
Healthcare depends on predictability. If an agentic AI system updates without warning or clarity, it can destabilize workflows or introduce unknown errors.
Ask vendors:
- Are updates pushed automatically or opt-in?
- Will your team provide detailed update documentation in advance?
- Do you allow sandbox testing of updates before they go live?
- How do you communicate known issues or adverse events after deployment?
Why it matters: Uncontrolled updates can create clinical risk. They can also make your organization non-compliant with safety protocols or internal IT policies.
Red Flag 5: No Readiness for External Validation
If a vendor isn’t ready for third-party review, they’re not ready for high-risk healthcare environments.
Ask vendors:
- Have you pursued or passed any third-party audits or assessments?
- Can you provide documentation aligned to emerging AI standards?
- Are you willing to undergo a conformity assessment from a nonprofit such as the RAI Institute?
- What internal processes exist to prepare for regulatory scrutiny?
Why it matters: Regulators are moving quickly. You’ll need defensible documentation to show your procurement team exercised due diligence. Conformity assessments give you that.
How Conformity Assessments Can Help
You shouldn’t have to be an AI expert to buy AI tools safely. That’s where conformity assessments come in. The Responsible AI Institute offers independent reviews that help you cut through vendor promises and identify where real risk lies.
These assessments help you:
- Identify weak spots in vendor accountability
- Validate claims of safety, fairness, and transparency
- Get audit-ready documentation for compliance teams
Assessments also help vendors improve. If they’re serious about being in healthcare, they should welcome that signal.
Take Action: Get Ahead of Risk Before It Becomes a Crisis
Agentic AI in healthcare is not a question of if, but when. The tools you’re being asked to review today may shape patient outcomes and institutional risk profiles for years to come. It pays to be prepared now — and we’re here to help.
RAI Institute members get access to:
- Readiness checklists and evaluation templates built for procurement teams
- Expert guidance to support contract review and vendor due diligence
- Priority access to conformity assessments for high-risk AI systems
- A network of healthcare and legal peers facing the same challenges
Becoming a member gives you the tools, support, and credibility to lead safe, forward-looking procurement practices for adopting agentic AI with confidence.
Don’t wait for regulation to force your hand. Join the RAI Institute today and set the standard for responsible AI in healthcare procurement.
