Colombian context
Artificial intelligence for doctors in Colombia
Artificial intelligence for physicians in Colombia can help document consultations, organize clinical information, and consult evidence. Its use must maintain professional review and respect the rules that protect medical records and health data.
In Colombia, this implies distinguishing between the tool that prepares a draft, the official system where the medical history is kept, and the national exchange mechanisms, such as the IHCE and the RDA.
Colombia Colombia
Clinical history: 5 normative characteristics.
Interoperability: IHCE through EHR.
Terminologies: ICD-10, CUPS and IUM.
AI in telemedicine: support with human supervision.
What characterizes a well-documented medical record in Colombia
Resolution 1995 of 1999 defines the medical record as a private, mandatory, and confidential document. It also establishes five characteristics that remain a practical reference for evaluating any documentation process, whether manual, electronic, or AI-assisted.
| Completeness | It must bring together the scientific, technical, and administrative aspects related to care. |
| Sequentiality | The records must chronologically reflect the care provided. |
| Scientific rationality | The content must logically, clearly, and completely demonstrate the procedure followed. |
| Availability | The information must be usable when necessary, respecting legal restrictions. |
| Opportunity | The registration must be done at the time of care or immediately after. |
These principles help understand why a long note is not necessarily a good note. What matters is that the record is relevant, verifiable, and useful for the continuity of care. The following sections turn these requirements into practical criteria for evaluating an AI tool.
COLOMBIAN FRAMEWORK
From the confidential medical record to standardized exchange
1999
The Resolution 1995 established rules for the completion, administration, custody, and confidentiality of the medical record.
2012
Law 1581 included health-related data within the category of sensitive data and reinforced the personal information protection framework.
2020–2021
Law 2015 regulated the interoperability of the electronic health record. Resolution 866 defined relevant clinical data and catalogs for exchange.
2025–2026
The Resolution 1888 of 2025 adopted the RDA and established its implementation. In 2026, national exchange began.
University and high-complexity hospitals in Colombia
There is no single stable measure of «largest hospital.» To understand where high-complexity care, teaching, and research take place, it is more useful to look at university hospitals and recognized institutions within the Colombian quality system. Some relevant examples are:
University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá
Bogotá. University hospital with high-complexity services and activities in education and research.
Valle del Lili Foundation
Cali. University hospital focused on high-complexity care, teaching, and clinical research.
Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital
Medellín. Hospital institution with adult and pediatric care, critical care, and multiple specialties.
San Vicente Fundación University Hospital
Medellín. High-complexity university hospital and specialist training center.
Non-exhaustive selection based on the Unified Accreditation System and in public institutional information. It is not a ranking nor does it indicate affiliation with Itaca.
Medical record, RIPS and RDA: three different pieces
The terms often appear together, but they serve different functions. Confusing them can lead to demanding from a tool what corresponds to the institutional system or the national exchange mechanism.
| Element | Main function | Who manages it |
|---|---|---|
| Medical history | Record the care chronologically and preserve the complete clinical context. | The provider, with records made by the health team. |
| RIPS | Reports health benefit information and supports administrative and billing processes. | Providers, payers, and stakeholders responsible for reporting. |
| RDA | Summarize relevant clinical data from an encounter for exchange via the EHR. | It is generated from the provider's electronic health record system and exchanged according to the national model. |
The EHR does not replace the complete medical record. It is a standardized electronic document that gathers the minimum relevant information for continuity of care, outpatient consultation, hospitalization, emergency care, and other scenarios defined by the Ministry.
What Colombia requires to use AI in telemedicine
Resolution 1644 of 2026 regulates the use of AI-based platforms within the telemedicine modality. It allows them to be used as technological support, but requires clear information to the user, human talent supervision, registration and auditing, and provider responsibility.
The standard expressly preserves professional control: AI cannot substitute clinical judgment or replace the doctor-patient interaction. When a tool has diagnostic or decision-support functionality and is classified as a medical device, the corresponding requirements must also be reviewed with INVIMA.
Scope: This provision refers specifically to telehealth and telemedicine. It must not be presented as a general authorization for any use of AI in any clinical setting.
Five questions to evaluate a tool
- What function does it serve and what decisions remain in the hands of the professional?
- How do you report your capabilities and limitations?
- What usage and audit logs do you keep?
- How do you protect clinical data and control access?
- How is the result incorporated into the provider's official system?
See the consolidated text of the Resolution 1644 of 2026 before making decisions about telemedicine or clinical AI.
Where AI can contribute to Colombian clinical practice
The most immediate value is usually found in tasks where there is a lot of information and little time to organize it. Proper use depends on the context, the level of risk, and professional review.
Documentation
Prepare draft notes, summaries, and reports based on the conversation and available context.
Standardization
Help teams and locations use recognizable structures without replacing the judgment of each professional.
Evidence consultation
Search and synthesize medical sources to support clinical questions, always with critical review.
Continuity
Organize longitudinal information to make relevant history easier to retrieve.
AI alone does not solve interoperability. The provider still needs their electronic health record system, correct identification, permissions, custody, and connection to the EHR exchange mechanism when applicable.
ITHACA IN COLOMBIA
Itaca prepares clinical drafts. Your institution retains the official record.
Itaca helps turn conversations, documents, and quick notes into structured clinical drafts. It also allows working with templates and longitudinal context depending on the contracted functions.
The professional reviews and approves the content. The clinic or IPS retains responsibility for its official system, its policies, custody, and interoperability processes.
Official sources for further reading
- Resolution 1995 of 1999: management of the medical record.
- Regulations of the Interoperable Electronic Health Record.
- Resolution 1888 of 2025: RDA and implementation of the IHCE.
- Digital Health Care Summary Microsite.
- Resolution 1644 of 2026: telehealth, telemedicine, and AI.
- Security and privacy in clinical notes with AI.
Editorial and source review: Itaca team. Updated: September 11, 2026. This content is informational and does not replace legal, regulatory, or security advice. Always verify the current version and the obligations applicable to your institution.
Frequently asked questions about medical AI in Colombia
Does the RDA replace the medical record?
No. The EHR summarizes relevant clinical data for exchange through the EHR system. The complete medical record remains in the provider's system.
Are RIPS and RDA the same?
No. RIPS record service information and support administrative processes. The RDA organizes relevant clinical data for interoperability and continuity of care.
Can AI approve a clinical note for the doctor?
No. A tool can prepare a draft, but the professional must review it, correct it, and decide what content to incorporate into the official record.
Does Colombian regulation allow AI in telemedicine?
Resolution 1644 of 2026 allows the use of AI-based platforms as technological support in telemedicine under requirements of information, human supervision, auditing, security, and provider liability.
Explore other national contexts
Compare how the medical record, data protection, and interoperability change between countries.