Since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence has reached a fever pitch. Much of the excitement focuses on generative AI and its ability to create realistic text, images, and even code. In the healthcare field, this has led to intense speculation about AI’s potential applications, even raising questions about its ability to outperform human doctors or replace surgeons.
However, the intense focus on sensational AI applications obscures the ways these new technologies can truly transform healthcare. In fact, AI's greatest potential lies in its ability to collaborate with clinicians, not replace them.
While generative AI is an impressive tool, it is not always accurate. Generative AI models like ChatGPT and Bard carry warnings about their tendency to fabricate information or engage in "hallucination" — essentially creating convincing but false details. The lack of precision makes generative AI a risky proposition in healthcare, a field where even minor inaccuracies can have serious consequences.
Imagine an AI system responsible for generating personalized patient call summaries — a seemingly straightforward application. If the AI were to "hallucinate" a medication the patient isn't taking or miss a crucial symptom, the potential for harm is significant. We need careful evaluation and rigorous controls before deploying generative AI in healthcare settings.
To truly make AI work for healthcare, we need to flip the script on how we think about this tool. Instead of trying to force-fit generative AI into random applications, we must focus on the real-world struggles healthcare workers face every day. From there, we can build targeted AI solutions that solve those problems head-on.
For example, a major pain point for healthcare providers today is the constant struggle against time constraints. Many doctors struggle to fit everything they need to get done in a day. This is a prime area where strategic AI implementation can make a significant impact.
Lower administrative burdens: AI can handle the busy work that drains doctors' time and energy. It can streamline charting and documentation by automatically extracting relevant information from patient conversations and medical records so doctors only need to review and confirm. AI can also generate report templates, ease referral processes, and speed up reimbursement-related tasks.
Fewer repetitive tasks: A lot of work done by doctors – such as initial patient assessments and lab result reviews – is important yet simple and repetitive. In these instances, AI can gather routine information, collect symptom descriptions, and potentially suggest preliminary diagnoses for non-urgent cases. For routine lab results, AI can analyze data, flag potential abnormalities, and alert physicians to areas needing closer attention. AI tools can even expedite the process of medication prescriptions and renewals, ensuring correct dosages, verifying interactions, and streamlining adherence to established safety protocols.
Reduced alert fatigue: The constant barrage of beeps and notifications from medical devices can desensitize healthcare providers, making it easy to miss truly critical warnings. AI offers a promising solution: It can analyze patterns, patient data, and device signals to filter out less critical alerts, potentially leading to improved patient safety and fewer missed critical interventions.
Better patient communication: AI tools can develop libraries of clear, easy-to-understand explanations for common conditions and treatments, helping doctors save time on repeated explanations. AI-powered chatbots can answer basic patient questions, address concerns stemming from misinformation, and provide pre- and post-visit support. AI can also support virtual care, create personalized care pathways, and streamline follow-up communications, sending automated check-ins, gathering patient updates, and flagging any potential issues needing a doctor's attention. Doctors can then focus on the more personalized and nuanced aspects of communication.
By developing AI solutions that are specifically designed to address real-world healthcare challenges, we can free up time, reduce burnout, and improve patient outcomes. Even seemingly small improvements, like streamlining paperwork or filtering out unnecessary alerts, can create a ripple effect throughout the entire healthcare system. Let's embrace the potential of AI not as a replacement for doctors but as a powerful partner that works alongside healthcare professionals to enhance and extend their expertise.