It is a story anyone in the medical field can relate to — the need to take hours to research symptoms to try to help treat a patient. Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the healthcare industry, offering the ability to complete this research in a matter of minutes instead of hours. Although helpful, additional research has pointed to concerning biases within AI that could have a negative impact on patient care. Physicians, nurses, and technicians need to be aware of the risks and use these innovations wisely.
This is just one example of the impact of AI on healthcare. Medical professionals are wise to prepare for these advances while also taking steps to make sure its integration into their practice does not have a negative impact on their professional licensure. The first step to finding this balance is to understand these advances. The second is to safeguard against potential legal issues.
#1: Expand telehealth
AI is set to expand telehealth capabilities, allowing patients to receive quality care from the comfort of their homes. This technology facilitates virtual consultations with specialists, regardless of geographical barriers. AI-powered platforms enable real-time video consultations and can help to better ensure timely diagnosis and treatment while advanced algorithms can help to analyze patient data and provide the medical team with the information they need to provide personalized care recommendations over virtual platforms.
#2: Patient access to their records
AI can also help to empower patients by granting them greater access to their medical records, fostering active participation in their healthcare journey. Access to digital platforms allow patients to view and update their health records, helping to better ensure accuracy and completeness. Medical teams can also set up these AI tools to offer insights into treatment options, enabling patients to collaborate with healthcare providers. This transparency enhances patient autonomy and informed decision-making.
#3: Ease administrative burdens
AI assists medical teams by automating administrative tasks, such as scheduling and managing patient records. This efficiency allows healthcare professionals to focus on patient care rather than paperwork. AI systems can streamline appointment scheduling, reducing wait times and optimizing resource allocation while automated record management can help to ensure accurate documentation and easy retrieval of patient information.
Legal considerations to help better ensure integration of this technology does not have a negative impact on one’s professional license include safeguarding patient data and ensuring adherence to regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
AI’s integration into medicine offers promising advancements in telehealth, patient empowerment, and administrative efficiency. As AI continues to evolve, its potential to transform healthcare remains vast, promising a future where medical care is more accessible, personalized, and efficient. When utilized wisely, medical teams can balance beneficial use with mitigation efforts to reduce the risk of a violation that could trigger an official investigation by the state licensing board. Those who find themselves in such a situation are wise to take the matter seriously and seek legal counsel to help build a defense and protect their professional future.
Attorney John Rivas is responsible for this communication.