There’s no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) is now part of our daily lives – whether we know it or not. It can be a real time-saver, but it has its limits.
How would you feel about an AI tool translating your conversations with your doctor so that they could focus on you while you’re talking rather than worrying about typing what you say into a computer? This could also reduce appointment times, allowing doctors to see more patients during their day.
Most people surveyed had a generally positive reaction to the use of AI in health care
In a recent nationwide study by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, researchers found that most of the respondents felt fine about the use of AI in health care settings. Specifically:
- 75% believed it could be useful in minimizing human error.
- 71% were agreeable to using it to reduce wait times.
- 70% said they didn’t mind medical providers using it for patient notes.
It should be noted that 70% of the approximately 1,000 people surveyed expressed some concerns about the privacy of their data when AI is used.
Of course, not just any AI program could translate a patient’s conversation with their provider into useful and accurate clinical notes for them to refer to later. OSU’s medical center piloted a special application early this year during outpatient clinic visits (with patients’ permission) that used both ambient and generative AI.
The doctor who headed the pilot program said, “We found it saved up to four minutes per visit. That’s time the physician can use to connect with the patient, do education and make sure they understand the plan going forward.”
Initial results are positive
The tool has since been made available to any OSU doctor who treats patients in an outpatient setting. In the first two weeks, they reportedly saved 64 hours in total and increased patient satisfaction scores.
Doctors have reported relatively few and inconsequential errors when they reviewed the AI-generated notes. However, it’s crucial that doctors immediately review the notes to catch and correct any errors immediately. Otherwise, there could be critical misinformation in a patient’s electronic health record (EHR) that could lead to misdiagnosis or a missed diagnosis, incorrect treatment and more.
Ultimately, your doctor is responsible for the care they provide, even if they rely on AI to help them gather information. That’s why anyone who suffers harm due to a doctor’s negligence is wise to get legal guidance as soon as possible to determine their best course of action.