Exploring AI in Health Care: Opportunities and Challenges
As investment in and adoption of artificial intelligence accelerates, the health care industry is presented with both opportunities and challenges. This was the central theme at the recent AI in Health Care Symposium sponsored by the Health Leadership Institute at UVA Health, the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and the UVA School of Data Science.
Leaders from both the AI and health care sectors came together to discuss how the industry is actively adopting AI applications to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes, while navigating a fragmented ecosystem. Despite this momentum, participants acknowledged that there are significant challenges, particularly in balancing haste with the need for careful consideration in an industry where human lives are at stake.
Dr. Girish Nadkarni, chair of the Department of AI and Human Health at Mount Sinai, emphasized that health systems are now awash in data, increasingly capable of converting it into actionable insights through advanced AI models. Mount Sinai and other health centers use AI to detect heart failure via electrocardiograms, identify neurological injuries, and recognize potential candidates for clinical trials.
However, Dr. Nadkarni pointed out a paradox within the field: while some ideas are extensively researched, they fail to transition to clinical care, whereas other tech-driven solutions may not have undergone thorough investigation. He argued that progress in AI and technology should proceed with necessary regulation, governance, and transparency, ensuring that the clinical application can adapt quickly should complications arise.
Dr. Nadkarni stated, ‘We have to embed and codify essential principles of humanism into our health care system.’ He remarked on the enduring need for compassion, leadership, and teamwork in achieving success in this new AI era.
During a panel discussion led by Darden Dean Scott Beardsley, Professor Vivian Riefberg shared examples of how AI enhances access and patient care while simultaneously lowering costs. Riefberg described an AI tool used at major health systems like Cedars-Sinai for virtual urgent care. This technology interacts with patients online, asking relevant questions and analyzing medical histories to determine possible diagnoses before a human physician steps in.
A recent study in Annals of Internal Medicine confirmed that the AI application’s recommendations aligned with those of doctors most of the time and were often of higher quality in cases with discrepancies. ‘The app is designed to be humble,’ Riefberg stated, noting that it acknowledges when it should not make a judgment call.
Determining the appropriate division of responsibilities between AI and human clinicians emerged as a key theme throughout the symposium. Dr. J. Scott Just, CEO of UVA Physicians Group, mentioned the implementation of Microsoft Dax Copilot, which records appointments and generates clinical notes instantly, improving the clinician’s engagement with patients. ‘It has improved the joy and practice of medicine,’ he said, adding that it revitalizes careers and enhances patient experiences.
Dr. Meg Keeley, Senior Associate Dean for Education at the UVA School of Medicine, described how rapidly evolving technology affects medical education. With AI rapidly advancing, Keeley remarked, ‘the plane is trying to fly at the speed of sound.’ She highlighted the use of AI in medical training to improve communication skills and streamline administrative processes, emphasizing the necessity for students to learn prompt generation as a fundamental skill in clinical reasoning.
Riefberg encouraged health care leaders to maintain an open mindset regarding emerging technologies, suggesting that they consider both potential pitfalls and possible benefits. She noted that collaboration with trustworthy partners in academia and industry could significantly enhance the implementation of AI.
‘If you all keep reinventing the wheel by yourselves, we don’t have enough time or money,’ she advised. Multiple organizations, including UVA’s LaCross Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Business and the School of Data Science, are working together to propel AI technology forward in the health care realm, recognizing the need for innovation fueled by capable individuals.
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, experts agree that the integration of human oversight and ethical considerations will be paramount for successful outcomes in health care applications.
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