Google's AI course for health workers earns 5 CME credits

Google’s new AI course for health workers is approved for up to 5.0 continuing medical education credits, chief health officer Dr. Michael Howell wrote in a Google blog post on Oct. 29. The Google AI for Healthcare Professionals Certificate takes under five hours.

In the U.S. and Canada it runs on Coursera for $49 a month, according to Google’s certificate page. Learners can finish at their own pace.

What it teaches

The certificate has four courses of about an hour each:

• AI basics for health care: which tasks AI can safely help with, how to check its output and how to protect patient privacy.
• Patient communication: turning medical jargon into plain language summaries and visual aids.
• Administrative work: pulling action items out of email, building shift schedules and turning documents into audio briefings.
• Professional development: breaking down studies, building presentations and studying for CME and board exams.

The tools in the course are Google’s own: Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Gemini for Work.

The course stays away from patient care decisions. Google’s FAQ says it “does not cover clinical diagnosis, medical decision-making, or treatment recommendations.” It teaches learners to keep protected health information out of AI tools and to treat their employer’s policy as the final word.

Who it’s for

Google lists physicians, nurses, psychologists, therapists, social workers, pharmacists, residents, nursing students, health informatics staff and administrators. No technical background is needed.

The credits are jointly provided by iiCME and Google. Physicians can claim up to 5.0 credits. Nurses and physician assistants can use them through bodies that accept AMA PRA Category 1 credits. Pharmacists need to check with their state board, Google says, since some boards accept only pharmacy education credits.

Early adopters

NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Touro University are offering the course to faculty, residents and medical students, Howell wrote. Purdue University School of Nursing is adding it to its training.

Google clinicians built the curriculum. It draws on draft AI competencies from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Why it matters

Howell pitches the course as a way to cut paperwork. He cites a national nursing survey in which nearly one in three registered nurses planned to leave or retire because of workloads.

The course also trains health workers on Google’s own tools. Its practical value depends on whether a hospital has approved Gemini for staff use, and Google’s FAQ tells learners their institution’s policy comes first.

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