The medicine field is changing with Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancement. Combined with escalated improvements in technology and computer processing, Artificial Intelligence-based systems are improving the accuracy of treatments, detection of diseases, and much more. Among all these, AI is playing a significant role in radiology. Many in the industry firmly believe that it might replace the radiologist (for better or worse).
If you see yourself as a part of the medical industry or in the healthcare sector in the next five years, you should be well versed in how Artificial Intelligence will be a part of it.
7 ways AI will impact the future of medicine
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the future of medicine by eliminating human errors and assisting surgeons. Can it ever replace humans in medicine? Let’s explore.
#1 ‘Eliminating’ human errors
As per WHO Patient Safety Fact Sheet, almost 2.6 million deaths happen every year because of human errors which could have been prevented. Also, no one can be blamed for it because it is ‘human’ to make errors, but technology, on the other hand, does not make such errors. It does what it has been designed to do without any ‘if(s)’ and ‘but(s)’ involved.
This is where AI will come in handy. Artificial Intelligence can figure out if there are any incongruities in the clinical best practices and can remind the doctors if they fall short anywhere.
But this does not mean that the errors will vanish from medicine. Artificial Intelligence depends heavily on data and insights such as demographics and environmental factors. If a sufficient amount of data is not available, then there is a scope of misdiagnosis, which can also be fatal.
#2 Real-time analysis
A basic part of diagnosing and resolving a clinical issue is getting the right data at the earliest possible extent. With AI, specialists and other clinical experts can use quick and exact information to assist and advance basic clinical navigation. Producing quicker and more reasonable outcomes can prompt improved and early treatment, cost-saving, and reduce patient wait time.
The real-time availability of the data will also improve the doctor-patient relationship. Furthermore, early or instant data availability to the patients on their cell phones will prompt them to get engaged in their treatment process and become more aware of the same.
#3 Assistance to surgeons
Artificial Intelligence is actively helping in medicinal research right now both in medical universities and hospitals. However, the involvement might be way more than just this after a few more years. You might witness doctors and surgeons being assisted by robots. It might be a shocker right now, but it will be a common sight then. Why so? Because both humans and AI are sharing more and more intellectual space with each other with every passing day, this might be utilized in medicine.
#4 Reduces physician stress
The medicine industry as a workplace can be really hectic, stressful, and frustrating. Artificial intelligence might be able to take that away by handling certain tasks and reducing the physician’s work stress. AI can automate functions, organize data, and streamline procedures, all of which a physician might get burned out.
#5 Saves resources and streamlines tasks
The healthcare sector always needs to be on its toes and ready for the unforeseen. We learned this lesson during the COVID-19 pandemic. When certain processes in the medical industry are automated and streamlined, the doctors have more time to focus and assess the patients. They do not have to worry about trivial tasks or backend processes.
Capital is vital for every industry to flourish, and in the medical industry, ‘time is money and life.’ AI has the potential to save time, which will eventually help in saving hefty costs and enable healthcare professionals to devote more time to save lives.
#6 Breach of security
Artificial Intelligence works on data networks, making it vulnerable to security breaches. A concrete cyber security system would be required to ensure AI is secure. In medicine, patient data and patient history are crucial. With AI, it will be a task to gain patients’ trust since there will be chances of data being stolen.
#7 A threat of human replacement
AI has the potential to replace humans in the workforce. The way AI is growing is both advantageous as well as threatening. Unemployment is one of the significant threats that one might have to face. But do not forget that nothing comes at par with the human brain, and it can never be replaced. AI has a lot of potentials. Whether it should be incorporated into medicine or not is still not articulated enough.