A few weeks ago, a close friend who also manages rare diseases asked me for my opinion on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. She looked anxious. When the AI suddenly showed up at her doctor’s appointment, she didn’t know what to make of it.
Actually, this problem has been on my mind for a while.
I’m no stranger to medical appointments to manage pulmonary hypertension (PH) and other co-morbidities, so this shift I had a front row seat. In my region, AI is already part of medical practice. Early last year, my therapist emailed another client and I to ask if we were comfortable with an AI taking notes during calls. I agreed and signed a waiver. Now she just confirms my consent before each session begins.
Attention is the key
At first, I felt a little uneasy, just like when my Amazon Echo first started making noise in my living room. But now I find myself cautiously hopeful. Using AI in the healthcare field could allow healthcare providers to understand every detail from our visits. If my doctor isn’t engrossed in his laptop typing, he can actually see me. Reducing the amount of time spent on document creation seems like a win-win for everyone.
But how accurate can AI actually be?
I’m not the only one asking this. colleague, sarcoidosis news Columnist Kelly Wong recently wrote a column titled “Patients and healthcare providers should approach AI with caution.” I completely agree. Those of us managing rare diseases and other complex health conditions need to know that our charts are accurate. We are entitled to the best possible care. In the field of rare diseases, so-called simple clerical errors can be not only a nuisance, but a matter of life or death.
As I think about it further, I keep coming back to Kelly’s example of the AI report listing the wrong drugs. That possibility is frightening, especially since I’ve had experiences where my medication list wasn’t updated accurately while I was in the hospital. Of course, humans also make mistakes. Perhaps broader use of AI could help solve this problem by cross-referencing data more quickly and reliably than overworked healthcare providers.
Another question we discussed is whether AI can actually reduce time to diagnosis. I’ve read that integrating this new technology could potentially speed up the diagnostic process. In the world of PH, that’s music to our ears. Too many people in our community wait years to get an accurate diagnosis. We all know that early diagnosis is important so that life-saving treatment can begin sooner. If AI can spot patterns that humans miss, I’m all for it.
Pulmonary hypertension news recently published an article about a new AI tool that helps predict recovery time after surgery for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. This article featured research from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Using AI in this way – predicting the recovery time each patient will need – could be a game-changer in surgical preparation.
Personally, I would love to know exactly what happens next. I would like to work with my medical team to plan ahead rather than panicking after surgery. If AI can help set realistic expectations about what will happen after surgery, it could provide a sense of control even in somewhat unpredictable situations.
But part of me wonders where it stops. Will we become dependent on AI in every aspect of our lives?
I think it’s a complicated balance. For now, as long as human eyes are monitoring these charts, I’m willing to embrace this technology if it means faster diagnosis and more courteous physician responses.
What do you think about the use of AI in healthcare? We’d love to read your perspective in the comments below.
Note: Pulmonary Hypertension News is strictly a news and information website about this disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Hypertension News or its parent company BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues related to pulmonary hypertension.
