From skepticism to trust: Doctors and the future of AI
As we celebrate National Doctors Day, we acknowledge the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), a trend gaining momentum into 2024 and beyond. Amid this technological surge, there's a contemplation on the role of human intuition in medicine and whether AI might replace the "doctor’s hunch.” Human judgment, enriched by emotions, values, and empathy, remains indispensable in healthcare. As we stand on the brink of these innovations, it's crucial to explore how healthcare professionals are navigating this technological disruption—weighing skepticism against increasing adoption.
Dr. Shuchin Bajaj, Founder & Director of Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, highlights AI's transformative potential, especially in regions lacking adequate healthcare infrastructure. She asserts, "AI offers precise diagnostic support crucial in areas without skilled medical professionals. AI-driven tools meticulously analyze medical images like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, detecting conditions such as fractures, tumors, or infections with accuracy that rivals, and sometimes exceeds, human experts. This capability promises earlier and more precise diagnoses, ultimately improving patient outcomes."
Dr. Amit Bhushan Sharma, Director and Unit Head of Cardiology at Paras Health Gurugram, discusses AI's impact on healthcare, particularly in image scanning and patient management. "AI enables us to identify medical issues in image scans with unprecedented accuracy and speed, crucial for initiating early treatment and achieving better health outcomes. However, integrating AI presents challenges. Mastering these new systems requires time and effort, with persistent concerns about safeguarding patient data and ensuring AI remains current. Despite these challenges, AI accelerates workflows, reduces errors, and enhances patient care, synergizing with medical expertise to advance healthcare."
Dr. Sharma emphasizes AI's role in improving diagnostic precision and revolutionizing patient record management. "By automatically organizing and analyzing extensive data, AI provides precise patient profiles, empowering us to make informed decisions, tailor treatments, and monitor patients effectively."
Dr. Mandeep Singh Malhotra, Director of Surgical Oncology at CK Birla Hospital (R), Delhi, believes in AI's transformative power despite initial reservations among healthcare practitioners. "AI can revolutionize healthcare by aiding in complex diagnostics, interpreting radiology images, addressing the shortage of trained radiologists, and extending services to underserved areas. It enhances diagnostics, predicts outcomes, assists in pathology reports, guides robotic surgeries, and facilitates gene analysis, leading to more precise treatments and better patient outcomes." Dr. Malhotra emphasizes that AI should augment, not replace, healthcare professionals. "AI will transform healthcare, enhancing accessibility and effectiveness, particularly in rural or remote regions. By automating routine tasks, AI allows healthcare professionals to focus on high-value activities, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.”
Dr. Sachin Shah, Director of Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Services at Surya Mother and Child Super Speciality Hospitals, notes India’s healthcare digital transformation. "AI adoption surged to 70% in 2020, with 73% of healthcare and pharmaceutical companies integrating this technology during the pandemic." Despite rapid adoption, Dr. Shah stresses AI as an assistant rather than a substitute for healthcare professionals, automating tasks like patient record management and history analysis to enhance personalized care. He highlights AI's potential to automate up to 36% of health and social care activities by 2030, addressing a projected deficit of 3.5 million health professionals globally. "AI enables personalized treatment plans by analyzing patient-specific data, improving treatment efficiency tailored to each patient’s needs.” Dr. Shah illustrates AI's impact in healthcare, accelerating mammogram review 30 times faster with 99% accuracy, reducing unnecessary biopsies. "In surgeries, AI aids decision-making, improving resection margins and operational efficiency. AI facilitates early epidemic detection and efficient population health management by tracking disease trends."
Dr. Shah emphasizes a balanced approach where AI complements human expertise, ensuring patient-centered, accessible healthcare advancing in quality and efficiency. Embracing AI as a tool to augment, not replace, healthcare professionals underscores a balanced approach to advancing medical practice in a technologically driven era.