July 10, 2024

Better, Not Faster

When discussing the benefits of AI, most people focus on how it can speed up tedious work. Automating repetitive tasks or kickstarting ideas are valuable benefits of AI, but they are only the beginning.

The real value of AI lies in its ability to improve the quality of our work. Those who learn to leverage AI to enhance the quality of work, rather than just push it out the door faster, will see the greatest benefits.

We are often tempted to use AI as a substitute for effort, rather than a tool to complement our skills. Like most easy paths in life, those who cut corners hurt themselves in the long run.

Ethan Mollick, author of "Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI," notes:

People who don't struggle with the answers will not improve their understanding. It is the struggle that brings progress. As Picasso said, "I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."

AI can help us accomplish a lot, but we should not squander its potential by using it solely to work faster. Over the next few weeks, I'll share some thoughts on how we can leverage AI to improve the quality of our work.

In the meantime, reframe your thinking. Don't think of AI as a path to faster work. Think of it as the way to better work.

Wade

In the Wild

​ChatGPT Gives Better Answers to Health-Related Questions Than Human Physicians, Study Finds​

Summary of article from PsyPost, by Vladimir Hedrih:

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that ChatGPT provided superior responses to health-related questions compared to human physicians in 79% of cases. Licensed healthcare professionals evaluated responses from both ChatGPT and physicians on Reddit’s r/AskDocs forum, rating ChatGPT’s answers higher in quality and empathy. Despite the promising results, the study authors caution that further research is needed to understand the potential impact of AI in clinical settings. They also note that the comparison was made against volunteered physician responses on a public forum, which may not reflect the full effort physicians typically invest. The study highlights the potential of AI to assist in healthcare but emphasizes the need for cautious integration.

​Why Are Primary Care Physicians Optimistic About AI?​

Summary of article from MedCity News, by Katie Adams:

Primary care physicians are optimistic about AI’s potential to enhance care delivery efficiency, particularly through automated dictation and scribing tools, which have significantly reduced administrative burdens. A survey by Elation Health revealed that nearly 70% of primary care clinicians believe AI will be crucial for future healthcare efficiency. The key advantage of AI is its ability to decrease “pajama time,” allowing physicians to spend more time with patients. Phill Tornroth from Elation Health emphasized that AI should augment, not replace, clinicians by integrating seamlessly into their workflows. This approach aims to enhance the physician-patient relationship, which remains central to effective primary care.

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AI Governance

​5 Tips to Implement Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Organizations Successfully​

Summary of article from Medical Economics, by Ronen Lavi:

The successful implementation of AI in healthcare organizations requires clear objectives, tailored technology, seamless integration with existing systems, effective clinician engagement, and robust analytics. Organizations should define specific, measurable goals to guide AI adoption and select healthcare-specific AI solutions that align with these objectives. Smooth integration with electronic health records (EHRs) and minimal disruption to patient care are crucial. Engaging clinicians through effective communication and training is essential to address skepticism and ensure adoption. Lastly, leveraging analytics to monitor and optimize AI usage can help achieve strategic outcomes and improve key performance indicators.

​How AI Could Help Triage Emergency Department Care​

Summary of article from Association of Health Care Journalists, by Karen Blum:

Two recent studies highlight the potential of GPT-4, an AI model by OpenAI, to assist in emergency department triage and hospital admission predictions. Researchers at UCSF found that GPT-4 could identify patients with more severe conditions with 89% accuracy, slightly outperforming physicians. A second study by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai demonstrated GPT-4’s ability to predict hospital admissions with up to 83% accuracy. These findings suggest AI could help streamline emergency care, though further validation and efforts to mitigate biases are needed. Despite the promise, doctors will still need to independently assess patients to ensure accurate treatment.

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Cybersecurity and Ransomware

​5 Best Practices for Achieving Healthcare Cloud Compliance​

Summary of article from Pro IT Today, by Christopher Tozzi:

Healthcare organizations can ensure cloud compliance by adopting several key practices. Implementing a zero trust security strategy is essential to protect sensitive data by granting access only when necessary. Educating cloud engineers about specific compliance requirements and using cloud data loss prevention (DLP) tools to detect and secure sensitive information are also crucial steps. Additionally, considering on-premises storage for highly sensitive data and opting for simpler cloud architectures can help minimize compliance risks. These measures collectively support the secure and compliant management of healthcare data in cloud environments.

Wade Emmert Partner & Healthcare Practice Group Leader Board Certified, Health Law // Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) // Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP) // Certified in Cybersecurity (ISC2 CC) ​​

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