The rise of AI in healthcare: can AI replace doctors?
Source: Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital
Source: GD Today
As discussions around the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare intensified, from August 17 to 19, an innovative "AI+Doctor" model was presented during the 7th China's Medical Workers' Day at Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital. This event included free medical consultations and a thematic forum aiming at exploring how human-machine collaboration can enhance the quality and efficiency of medical services.
Patients can experience the "AI+Doctor" by simply scanning a QR code on their smartphones, which prompts a dialogue box with targeted questions. After answering roughly a dozen inquiries, the AI provided a preliminary diagnosis and prescription.
Mr. Huang, a first-year graduate student who came in for pain related to running, shared his experience: "The entire process took only about 15 minutes! It was efficient and smooth."
Huang appreciated the quick response time of the AI but noted that it currently lacks capabilities such as visual and olfactory assessments. He expressed hope for future enhancements: "When I saw the real doctor, I was asked to demonstrate a leg raise, which helped identify my problem. If 'AI+Doctor' could do that too, it would be even more convenient."
On August 17, the hospital collaborated with Medlinker to start this AI-assisted free clinic. A total of 100 effective cases were processed under this model, where AI facilitated rapid screening and diagnostic assistance, thereby optimizing decision-making among physicians.
Dr. Ai Maomao, an associate chief physician of the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the hospital, said "AI technology has performed well in improving the efficiency and accuracy of diagnosis and treatment. However, in this process, the humanistic care and safety protection of doctors are still indispensable. In addition to diagnosis, doctors can provide emotional support and encouragement to patients, patiently answer questions, and help patients build confidence in overcoming the disease."
Dr. Chen Long, a doctor of medicine(M.D.) in the Department of Spine Surgery, highlighted that AI helps streamline patients' medical history collection, which can save valuable time for doctors to focus on patient interaction. Meanwhile, he acknowledged the need for improvements in areas such as dialect recognition, asserting that AI's potential in healthcare is vast and promising.
The results of the AI-free clinic were released at a themed forum on whether AI could replace physicians held on August 19. By reviewing the medical records in the free consultation and scoring from six dimensions, including the accuracy of consultation, recommended auxiliary examinations, diagnosis, treatment plan, credibility, and human-computer interaction, the final AI consultation achieved a score of 8.16 points out of 10.
Despite AI's significant contributions, Huang Yihui, the hospital director, said that AI cannot replicate the human touch that physicians provide — the empathy, the emotional connection, and the intuition that are central to healing. He stressed that the goal of the "AI+Doctor" model is to offer comprehensive and efficient care while maintaining humanistic values in medicine.