AI and Medicine
In addition to enabling personalized medicine, medical AI can also improve patient engagement by providing patients with more information about their health and treatment options. For example, AI- powered tools can help patients track their symptoms, monitor their progress, and receive personalized recommendations based on their individual health data. This can help patients take a more active role in their own healthcare and make more informed decisions about their treatment and lifestyle. Medical AI can also improve patient engagement by making healthcare more accessible and convenient. An example of this is telemedicine platforms, powered by AI, which allow patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely, reducing the need for in-person appointments and making healthcare more convenient and accessible for people who live in remote areas. This can also be seen through the integration of AI into things like insulin pumps in the US in which the monitoring of blood glucose levels is done by AI to adjust the insulin dose required (Nimri, 2020). Overall, medical AI has the potential to revolutionize the field of medicine, improving patient outcomes by enabling personalized medicine and improving patient engagement. However, it's important to note that while AI can provide valuable insights and recommendations, it's ultimately up to healthcare providers and patients to make the best decisions about treatment based on the individual needs and circumstances of each patient.
Impact of AI on doctor-patient interaction
AI has the potential to significantly impact doctor-patient interactions in several ways. Here are some possible ways AI could impact these interactions:
Improved diagnosis and treatment recommendations: AI can help healthcare providers make more accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment recommendations, by analysing large amounts of patient data and providing insights that might be difficult for humans to detect in a timely fashion. This can help doctors provide customized and effective care, and reduce the likelihood of misdiagnoses or medical errors, perhaps particularly in areas where expertise is limited. A very good example of this is the diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). Being able to determine the presence of a heart defect while the foetus is in the uterus can drastically improve the prognosis as it allows healthcare professionals and the parents to establish a plan before the baby is born. If for example, a baby requires surgery or intervention very soon after birth, it may aid in deciding which hospital is best for the baby to be delivered in. This early diagnosis can aid families in coming to terms with, and being prepared for, the baby’s cardiac issues. As well as, giving parents early options if they do not wish to c ontinue with the pregnancy. This is less of an issue in the west where prenatal scans are commonly practised and CHDs are screened for (Aranout, 2021). However, in parts of the world where antenatal care is less established and rigorous, AI-assisted scans could help to pick up on abnormalities that would otherwise be missed. In these cases, AI could serve as an effective substitute for the expertise lacking in other parts of the world. Enhanced patient education: AI-powered tools can help patients better understand their health conditions and treatment options. For example, virtual assistants can answer patient questions and provide information about medications, potential side effects, and lifestyle changes that can improve health outcomes.
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