09/14/2024    Lawrence Kosova, DPM

Can Artificial Intelligence Revolutionize Podiatric Medicine (Ali Davis, DPM)

Dr. Davis, there is a saying in AI, "AI won't
replace doctors but doctors that don't use AI will
be replaced." Being one of the podiatrists
interviewed for the article I wanted to comment.
AI is really being used for most of us for
increased efficiency and improvement, not
replacement. If anyone will be replaced the
Radiologists might be lessened in numbers.

The technology for breast cancer diagnosis and
other cancers is really something, and using AI as
an assistant for improved diagnosis is key. I am
having an upcoming colonoscopy and the doctor is
one of the leading specialist in this field is
using AI as an adjunct. With AI, she has an
increased finding of adenoma rate of 25% that
might of been missed before this technology. Now
all residents/fellows are being trained with this
AI assistance but she wants each of them to have a
certain number of cases prior to using it.

In podiatry, we use our hands and are very
tactile. You can't really replace that. Patients
are already going onto "Google" to find out a
diagnosis before coming into the office. A more
informed patient usually is a better patient to
treat. I am old enough to equate this to dipping
your x-rays vs. digital x-rays. The later will
give you a better more defined image so you the
doctor can make a better diagnosis in less time.

With Heidi Health , which I am a medical advisor
for, you can keep doing your charting the way that
works well for you or you can be more efficient
and get a more comprehensive note in less time
reducing the burden and burn out of doing chart
notes. It "might" replace a transcriptionist but
not the doctor. We are finding offices being more
efficient and doctors choice of spending more time
with their patients or seeing more patients in
that same time frame. I just enjoy going home and
not having any charts left to do. You would be
surprised of many doctors have 25-50 charts to do
once they actually get home. This is the way
doctors will be doing their notes in the next 2-5
years. Major hospital systems have already started
implementing it.

So I think if you see this technology as a whole
to help with efficiency of what you are currently
doing and how your office can use it for less
burden on your staff, this might make more sense.
Please reach out anytime.

Lawrence Kosova, DPM, Naperville IL

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