The 14th Community Health Research Conference, held on June 18 at the Benguet State University (BSU) Gymnasium, brought together medical professionals and technology experts to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) or smart computer programs can be used safely in medical settings.
This year’s conference focused on the theme “Binadan for Health: Bridging Communities through Research, Collaboration, Innovation and Care”, drawing on the local term for community collaboration.
Dr. José María Lorenzo de Vera, data expert at 101 Health Research, noted that AI serves two key functions in the medical field, but stressed that technology should not completely replace human clinicians and researchers.
“Yung una is a generative AI, so you give it a prompt and it gets something back. My primary use as a researcher is in scientific writing and analysis. In terms of opportunities and future directions, I lean toward the second, predictive AI, which can be trained to monitor patient recovery over time in the ER or at home, not as an assistant to scientific writing, but rather as a methodology in its own right,” Dr. de Vera added.
However, Dr. Eleanor Cuarte, a pediatrician and research ethics committee member at Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), warned of major challenges in using AI in the health system.
One of the issues she highlighted was “AI hallucinations,” noting that her measurements show that AI can confidently misinform clinicians.
“We need to mentor our younger colleagues because they are hooked on AI. They use this information more than the consultant’s opinion,” added Dr. Cuarte.
Experts agreed that schools and hospitals need to develop clear rules to protect patient confidentiality and prevent students from copying from AI. He also reminded everyone that while technology can be a huge help, humans must always make the final safe choice for patients.
“AI is most effective when it’s with humans. We should remember that. Let’s use AI as a tool. We should remember that we, humans, are the ones using it,” Dr. Cuarte said.
Dr. Cecilia Mercado of Saint Louis University added, “The value of AI lies not in how sophisticated ‘young AI’ is, but in how we use it responsibly.”
“As I always say, AI is a tool and you, the human, are the golden rule,” Dr. Devera reminded the audience in his closing statement. Clarice Hidalgo | University of California Intern
