In todays digital world, new artificial intelligence (AI) is constantly changing how people get information. AI systems can process and organize vast amounts of data in a way that humans cannot. As these tools become more common, many people are turning to them for quick answers. One common use for AI is receiving answers to health-related questions.
A person might type their symptoms into an AI chatbot and expect it to provide a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. The convenience of this is appealing. However, while AI can provide general information, it cannot replace the expertise and judgment of licensed healthcare professionals.
This blog post will explain what AI can and cannot do in healthcare, highlight the risks of relying on it for medical advice, and emphasize the importance of seeking safe, personalized care from a human provider.
The Capabilities and Limits of AI in Healthcare
AI has a growing role in the medical field. It can be a valuable tool when used safely. AI systems are excellent at organizing and analyzing data. For example, a hospital might use AI to manage patient records, identify patterns in large datasets, or even help researchers find new connections between diseases.
In a clinical setting, AI can help providers with administrative tasks, freeing up more time for them to focus on their patients. It can be implemented to analyze results and find trends. A common use of this is in sepsis protocol. When lab results indicate an increase in white blood cells (WBCs), heart rate, and fever, some systems trigger a possible sepsis alert for healthcare staff to investigate further.
However, there are many things AI cannot do. AI does not have a physical body and cannot perform a physical examination. It cannot listen to a patients heart, check their reflexes, or feel for swelling. More importantly, AI cannot understand the full context of a persons life.
A human healthcare provider takes into account many factors when making a diagnosis: a persons complete medical history, their family's health background, their lifestyle, and even their living or working environment.
An AI system cannot fully grasp these complex, interconnected details. It can only work with the data it has been given. A primary care providers experience and wisdom, built over many years of education and practice, cannot be replicated by an algorithm.
The Dangers of Relying on AI for Medical Advice
Relying on AI for a diagnosis or treatment plan can lead to serious risks. The most significant danger is misinformation. AI systems are prone to what is known as a hallucination, which is when they create false or made-up information while presenting it as fact.
Another major risk is that AI lacks the ability to understand nuance. A patients description of a symptom can be vague or incomplete. A primary care provider can ask follow-up questions to clarify what a patient means, but AI cannot. For example, a person might say they have a "stomachache." The provider would ask if the pain is sharp or dull, if it comes and goes, what makes it better or worse, and where exactly the pain is located. Without the ability to ask questions and understand these subtle details, the AI's response is often useless and potentially dangerous.
The risks are not just theoretical. AI tools have the potential to make clinical diagnostic errors. In one study, pathologists found that the AI tools used to aid in histopathology (the study of tissue) had a diagnostic error rate of approximately 18%.
The Essential Role of Human Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals offer a level of care that AI cannot. The relationship between a patient and a healthcare provider is built on trust and a human connection. Healthcare professionals can offer empathy and understanding, which are important parts of feeling safe and getting better.
Beyond this, a primary care provider is trained to consider every aspect of a persons health. They provide a truly personalized approach, which is necessary for effective care. They can perform physical assessments, order necessary blood tests, and use their professional judgment to connect the pieces of information in a way that an algorithm cannot.
A human professional is also held accountable for their actions and advice. Medical and nursing professionals go through years of education, training, and licensing to ensure they are qualified to give advice. In the case of an error, there are clear standards for legal and professional accountability.
When an AI tool makes a mistake, the question of who is at fault is much less clear. Is it the company that made the AI tool? The hospital that used it? The person who relied on it? This lack of clear responsibility is another reason why AI cannot be trusted with critical medical decisions.
How AI Can Assist, Not Replace, Human Care
The best use of AI in healthcare is as a tool to support professionals, not to replace them. AI is a powerful assistant that can make the work of primary care providers, nurses, and other allied healthcare professionals easier and more efficient.
For example, AI can help professionals analyze large data sets to identify trends in public health or predict which patients might be at risk for certain diseases. This can help with early intervention and preventive care. In a providers office, AI could be used to help with scheduling, billing, and other administrative tasks.
When AI is used correctly, it improves the quality of care without taking away the essential human element. The final decision and the responsibility for a patient's health always remain with the human professional.
Making an Informed Choice
While AI offers useful tools for learning about health topics, it has clear limits. It is a technology that can help healthcare professionals work more effectively, but it cannot replace their human judgment, empathy, and years of experience.
The risks of using AI for a diagnosis or treatment plan, including the potential for misinformation and harm, are too high. A licensed healthcare professional has the training and ability to provide the personalized, safe care that every person deserves.
Always seek advice from a provider you can trust, because when it comes to your health, a human expert is the only one who can give you the best guidance.
About the Author:
Breann Kakacek, BSN, RN, has been a registered nurse since 2015 and a CNA prior to that for two years while going through the nursing program. Most of her nursing years included working in the medical ICU, cardiovascular ICU, and the OR as a circulating nurse. She has always had a passion for writing and enjoys using her nursing knowledge to create unique online content. You can learn more about her writing career and services at ghostnursewriter.com
Breann is an independent contributor to CEUfast's Nursing Blog Program. Please note that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this blog post are solely of the independent contributor and do not necessarily represent those of CEUfast. This blog post is not medical advice. Always consult with your personal healthcare provider for any health-related questions or concerns.
If you want to learn more about CEUfast's Nursing Blog Program or would like to submit a blog post for consideration, please visit https://ceufast.com/blog/submissions.
