The truth is that the use of AI in healthcare is changing medicine. Today, AI is already being used in several areas, including transcription, radiology, and even surgery.
To be clear, AI is not replacing doctors. It helps them work more efficiently, so you receive safer, more precise, and higher-quality care. AI is a tool that enhances how doctors practice, allowing them to focus more on patient care.
In this blog, we will look at how AI in healthcare began, where it is used today, and its key benefits. Understanding this technology can help clear up questions and give you confidence in how it supports your medical care.
How the Use of AI in Healthcare Began
With the rise of ChatGPT and other AI tools, it may feel like AI is relatively new, especially in the medical field. But the truth is, AI has a deeper history in healthcare than most realize.
The idea that machines could simulate the human mind dates back to the work of Alan Turing in the 1950s. In a paper he wrote during this time, he developed the concept of the Turing Test, which would lay the framework for artificial intelligence.
From that point, one of the first major developments of AI in healthcare occurred in the 1970s with MYCIN, developed at Stanford. MYCIN, an AI system, was designed to diagnose bacterial infections and recommend antibiotic treatment. MYCIN was highly accurate, but at the time, there wasn’t much trust in AI.
AI systems gained momentum in the 1980s and 90s, with designs to analyze patient symptoms against large medical databases. Despite its promising nature, it was limited in its ability to adapt because it was manually programmed. This limitation, along with low funding, slowed the use of AI in healthcare.
In the 2000s, AI re-emerged, overcoming its prior limitations of manual programming with the advent of electronic health records (EHR). With electronic health records, AI could learn and adapt from real-world data, unlike its manually programmed predecessors.
Since 2015, the use of AI in healthcare has expanded significantly, especially in medical imaging and surgery. In robotic surgery, AI-assisted systems like the da Vinci surgical platform, which I use in my practice, help improve precision, efficiency, and patient outcomes.
Understanding AI’s progression shows that it is a continually improving tool. The use of AI in healthcare may have started off slowly, but it is gaining momentum. For this reason, it is important to understand how AI is being used in medicine today so you can be informed and have confidence in the care you receive.
Using AI in Medicine
AI is being used in medicine in many ways, from helping doctors with routine tasks to supporting complex procedures.
In the Clinic
Early AI use in medicine in the clinic focused on helping doctors write their notes. Initially, doctors dictated their notes, and a human typist transcribed them. Then came computer programs with templates to automate parts of the process. This reduced the need for human transcription, but it was still not true AI. It was simply computers making note-taking more efficient.
Using AI in documentation has expanded to your doctor visits through AI assistants. Providers can now talk with patients while AI transcribes their notes in real time during the visit. You may have noticed this at a recent appointment.
Your doctor will let you know whether they are using an AI assistant to help with note-taking, as they may phrase questions to ensure the documentation is accurate and complete.
We’ve also seen AI software, like ChatGPT, capable of listening to a conversation and organizing it into a note using a provided template. The software then formats that information in the format needed for the medical chart.
Beyond note-taking, AI is also used to optimize scheduling. AI-driven prompts can suggest more efficient ways to organize schedules, helping clinics make better use of time and resources. This is similar to what you see on your phone or in internet searches when AI offers suggestions or asks if you want help adjusting something.
The AI tools being used in clinics help streamline daily tasks, making visits more efficient and giving providers more time with patients.
Radiology & Imaging
AI is slowly working its way into radiology and imaging.
This hasn’t been seen in medical radiology yet, but it is used in dentistry with dental X-rays. There are dentists who have embraced AI and use a computer program that reads your X-ray. The computer analyzes the X-ray of your teeth and gives the dentist an impression. For example, it’ll indicate whether there's a cavity or something similar.
I’ve seen this firsthand at my dentist's office. During a visit, AI software noted I had a cavity, but the dentist reviewed the X-ray and determined it was simply the way my tooth is. Even when AI is used, the dentist still reviews your X-ray.
In my opinion, AI will never replace your doctor. Instead, it supports them by helping catch subtle findings and double-checking imaging results. A human doctor still reviews and interprets the final results that guide your care.
Robotic Surgery
As a robotic surgeon, AI is part of my daily practice and is integrated into my surgeries. In this setting, AI supports the computer-assisted surgical robot in procedures.
In some procedures, such as joint replacement, AI can map out the surgery by analyzing a patient’s joint and providing guidance on where to make precise cuts. The system continues to learn as more cases are performed.
There are many benefits to robotic surgery, including the immense value I find in the AI component for post-surgical reports. I can review a detailed report of each case, showing how I moved my instruments, how many times each instrument was used, and the duration of use. The report also provides percentages that compare my performance to national benchmarks, indicating whether I am at, above, or below average.
In robotic surgery systems like the da Vinci, AI also analyzes how surgeries are performed and offers simulation programs that allow surgeons to review each step, learn from previous cases, and improve technique over time. These tools are valuable for training residents and surgeons new to robotic surgery.
The robot I currently use includes a simulator that lets me review a case and practice on a model, focusing on areas of improvement. This is especially helpful for teaching colleagues and residents, as it allows them to refine their skills on a computer before operating on a patient. It’s a powerful tool that enhances learning while ensuring patient safety.
AI enhances robotic surgery, but it is not replacing your doctor. It may be called robotic surgery, but there’s still a doctor who is operating it.
AI in Healthcare: Advantages and Challenges
AI is becoming more common in healthcare, bringing both advantages and challenges.
Benefits
We are increasingly seeing the benefits of AI in healthcare. They include:
Automation: AI helps automate routine tasks such as note-taking, documentation, and scheduling. By capturing visit notes and storing them directly in the patient’s record, AI reduces the time spent taking and entering notes. This allows doctors to spend more face-to-face time with patients, focusing on care rather than clerical tasks.
A robot delivering medicine shows another use of AI automation in healthcare.
Support: AI can assist in interpreting radiology and scan results by identifying patterns and irregularities. While it does not replace specialists, it can provide direction and serve as an additional check, helping reduce errors and support more precise diagnoses.
Teaching: AI tools can help train surgeons and clinicians by analyzing performance, offering feedback, and providing simulation opportunities. By reviewing prior cases and outcomes, AI supports continuous learning and skill improvement, benefiting both experienced providers and those new to certain procedures.
You can read more on the benefits in this article from Harvard Medical School - The Benefits of the Latest AI Technologies for Patients and Clinicians | Harvard Medical School Professional, Corporate, and Continuing Education.
Challenges
Even with the many benefits of AI in healthcare, there are still challenges to overcome.
A Forbes article, Implementing AI In Healthcare Requires Overcoming These Five Challenges, outlines several key concerns. Let’s take a closer look at a few of them.
Cost: Implementing AI in healthcare requires substantial investments in technology, infrastructure, regulatory compliance, staff training, and more. This also includes the cost of ongoing updates and training for doctors and staff.
Human Acceptance and Trust: Clinic staff may be hesitant to adopt AI due to the need to acquire new skills and implement workflow changes. Patients may also have concerns about AI replacing their doctor and protecting the privacy of their medical information. Building trust requires AI systems to be transparent and explainable, so doctors and patients understand how recommendations are made.
Lack of Effective Evaluation: With the relatively recent adoption of AI in healthcare and the pace at which it is being introduced, clear frameworks to evaluate whether AI systems are meeting appropriate goals, safety measures, and standards are still evolving.
Why AI Matters for Patients and Healthcare
Even with all its capabilities, AI is not replacing your doctor; it enhances their capabilities and supports better patient care. It encourages continuous learning and improvement in medicine, giving patients confidence that their care is guided by advanced tools. The best care comes from combining AI with human expertise.
So, why is understanding the use of AI in healthcare important? AI in healthcare is part of the future of medicine. It has already changed the landscape of medicine and will no doubt continue to evolve.
Providing you care beyond the visit ~
Dr. Cindy Geocaris