On April 14th, 1912, the RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg, sinking to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. However, history remembers the tragedy not only for the ship’s sinking but also for the lack of lifeboats aboard, leading to the loss of hundreds of lives.
Lifeboats were an invention made to save these lives. They are a tool that represents the advancement of mankind with the purpose of preserving human life. Today, augmented intelligence in medicine is a novel tool that presents a similar proposition, with the promise of improving health outcomes and saving lives. It is my perspective that despite augmented intelligence being so drastically different than the technologies that came before it, its implementation will enhance our healthcare system unlike anything before.
Augmented intelligence (AI) is an idea that can be discussed endlessly, but its primary benefits can be observed through three pillars. Firstly, augmented intelligence has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. As a first-year medical student, I am always amazed by the sheer volume of medical knowledge and the capability of physicians to maintain and utilize it in patient-care settings. Yet, despite their expertise, errors are known to happen. With the assistance of AI, physicians can increase the speed and precision of their diagnostic techniques. With emerging fields such as AI-imaging techniques for detecting early cancers and AI- generated personalized treatment plans, there is potential for improved survival rates and overall health outcomes.
Secondly, AI also enables a focus shift toward predictive and preventative medicine.
Recently, we have seen the popularity of genetic testing services like 23andMe skyrocket. This demonstrates the public’s desire to understand both their current health and any future risk factors. Preventative medicine is a field that has suffered from a lack of data and detailed analysis. The capability of AI to identify patterns previously unseen by the human eye provides a promising resolution to this dilemma. Through an analysis of genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors, AI, with the collaboration of physicians, can identify individuals who may be at risk. These insights can create a world where early interventions and preventative population health measures become the norm, reducing the load on our strained healthcare system.
Lastly, in its least controversial application, AI can help to alleviate the administrative burden on physicians. Physicians spend an overwhelming amount of valuable time transcribing interactions, generating patient notes, and billing: time that could otherwise be spent with patients. It is not uncommon for patients to be frustrated with extended wait times or rushed interactions with providers. This additional time can be used not only to spend more time with their current patients but also to see additional patients and reduce burnout. Physicians do not aspire to enter healthcare to complete administrative tasks. AI can help increase job satisfaction for physicians who feel like they have lost sight of their work, improving the lives of physicians and patients.
Through these understandings, the parallels between augmented intelligence and the lifeboats of the Titanic become clear. However, ignoring the reality of how these lifeboats were used would be a historical inaccuracy. It is well known that the limited supply of these lifeboats was first prioritized to the wealthiest and first-class passengers of the ship. A lack of proper planning resulted in the deaths of many, leaving a lifesaving device only for those who could afford it. Without deliberate efforts to ensure equitable distribution, AI runs the risk of being a tool reserved only for well-funded institutions and affluent populations, resulting in underserved communities without access to potentially life-saving care.
The consequences of AI inequity could create a myriad of issues. Rural and community- based hospitals continue to suffer from a lack of resources, and implementing new AI technologies could prove to be too costly. Without these tools, these hospitals may be unable to attract new physicians due to professional concerns and burnout. It is also likely that patients who can seek care elsewhere will do so, putting further financial strain on hospitals that are on the brink of bankruptcy. Inequitable distribution can also create a “digital redlining” effect that can be pervasive throughout these AI algorithms. These programs rely on large data sets to make accurate decisions, which includes factoring in minorities and underserved populations who are more likely to seek out these hospitals. Inequitable distribution from the start can lead to the use of biased programs if/when they are implemented. This could result in physicians relying on inaccurate and misrepresented information, leading to the same or worse health outcomes for these patients.
Our current healthcare system is no stranger to inequity. While volunteering at the Salvation Army Clinic in Lexington, I witnessed how a lack of resources has left the clinic unable to purchase a proper EMR system, instead utilizing one developed locally by a student. Despite this generosity, this situation demonstrates inequity in our own city. Without a mainstream EMR system, issues can arise with fragmented patient histories, inefficiency in coordinating care, and difficulty managing chronic conditions. With open-source AI programs like ChatGPT, we have seen the capability of corporations to make this technology accessible. Through initiatives like a public-private partnership model, similar to the rural broadband internet initiatives instituted by the government, we can see AI be equitably distributed before it’s too late.
Lifeboats are a lifesaving tool, in theory. It is easy to create an invention with all its promises, but it’s also easy to fail to account for all who are on board. In theory, augmented intelligence can serve as a tool that can propel healthcare into a world where errors are few and between and excellence is a baseline expectation. We can witness a world where patient satisfaction soars while physicians feel most accomplished doing what they love. If the current trend of resource distribution remains, we are likely to see much more of what has plagued our healthcare system for decades: inequity, inequality, and neglect. The implementation of augmented intelligence in our healthcare system is not a luxury, it is a necessity.