Health IT

A mind to guide the machine: Why physicians must help shape artificial intelligence in medicine

Tech
July 6, 2025

I do not fear artificial intelligence—nor do I revere it. What I feel toward the rise of intelligent systems in medicine is something quieter: a tempered trust, a measured hope. I recognize their immense potential, but I also hold firm to the belief that the deepest work of medicine happens not through automation, but through human connection. There is a quiet power that lives between symptom and story, between numbers …

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How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

Tech
July 4, 2025

In this era of digital revolution in health care, the traditional physician-patient relationship is undergoing a significant transformation. Digital tools, including telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), artificial intelligence-based diagnostics, and various fitness applications, are reshaping how patients and clinicians interact and manage health together. While these innovations surely provide efficiency and accessibility, they also present significant challenges to the fundamental aspects of medical practice: trust, empathy, and human connection. As …

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The promise and perils of AI in health care: Why we need better testing standards

Tech
July 3, 2025

There is substantial enthusiasm around the advancements of AI in health care, as exemplified by the media attention for the new HealthBench release from OpenAI and similar recent studies from Google (MedPalm2, AIME). Market enthusiasm often leads us to believe that we’re on the brink of AI doctors treating patients worldwide. However, while these developments represent interesting technical progress, they fall short of demonstrating readiness for clinical application.

The stakes …

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3 tips for using AI medical scribes to save time charting

Tech
July 2, 2025

If you’re a clinician who’s tired of staying late at the clinic, bringing charts home, or sacrificing your lunch just to catch up on documentation—you’re not alone.

Documentation burnout is one of the top contributors to job dissatisfaction and work-life imbalance for health care professionals today.

Fortunately, new tech tools are offering a way out. Enter AI medical scribes—artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can save you so much time charting!

AI medical scribes …

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How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

Education
July 1, 2025

Is artificial intelligence going to replace physicians? I think the most accurate answer that can be given at this point is “maybe.” Either way, vehemently denying the mere possibility serves no one. If the takeover does happen, being proactive (rather than reactive) and carving a meaningful space for the physician workforce in light of AI leaves us better off than sitting on the sidelines as the next chapter begins. And …

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Would The Pitts’ Dr. Robby Robinavitch welcome a new colleague? Yes. Especially if their initials were AI.

Tech
June 30, 2025

When 2025 America tuned into HBO’s award-winning series The Pitt, we showed we’re seeking authenticity.

As someone who works at the intersection of health and invention and built their life around the creation of direct social impact, I see the show for what it is: a brutally honest portrayal of the intrinsic tragedy in our health care system. And an opportunity.

The Pitt’s unflinching portrayal of time, talent, and organizational politics is a …

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Generative AI 2025: a 20-minute cheat sheet for busy clinicians

Tech
June 28, 2025

Why doctors should care

  • Generative AI has moved from hype to bedside utility.
  • Ambient “copilot” apps draft encounter notes.
  • Large language models (LLMs) summarise new studies in seconds.
  • Early adopters save hours each week and report less burnout.

Five core concepts, clinical parallels

  • Neural networks → Repeated pattern-finding, like residents running endless simulations.
    Example: Abridge and Nuance DAX learn note structure from thousands of visits.
  • Prompt engineering → Give precise orders, just …

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Why public health must be included in AI development

Tech
June 28, 2025

When artificial intelligence developers gather to build tools that will reshape health care, one critical voice is often missing: public health.

Despite AI’s potential to improve outcomes and streamline operations, it is being developed with limited regard for public health priorities. The absence of this input is not just a technical oversight. It is an equity issue with far-reaching consequences.

From algorithmic bias to the exclusion of community-level data, equity shortcomings are …

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Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

Tech
June 27, 2025

When people think of electronic health records (EHRs), they assume these digital systems for storing patient information were designed for clinicians. But that is a fallacy. EHRs initially were designed for billing and compliance—and it shows.

Given the original purpose of EHRs, it’s not surprising that clinical workflows are disjointed. The limitations of traditional EHRs have made it more difficult for clinicians to quickly access relevant patient information at the point …

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AI and humanity in health care: Preserving what makes us human

Tech
June 27, 2025

As artificial intelligence gains ground in every aspect of health care, from diagnostics to documentation, an urgent question arises: Are we gaining efficiency at the cost of empathy?

Drawing inspiration from Simon Sinek’s perspective on AI and humanity, this piece explores how health care can embrace innovation without compromising the very heart of medicine.

1. Humanity first, technology second

“I’m not in the AI business. I’m in the humanity business.” – Simon Sinek

AI …

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AI is not a threat to radiologists. It’s a distraction from what truly matters in medicine.

Tech
June 23, 2025

As a radiologist, I’ve heard the same question too many times, usually from anxious medical students struggling to decide if they should pursue radiology:
“Is AI going to replace radiologists?”

I understand the concern. I had similar fears during training. But after years of practicing medicine and watching AI promises play out in the real world, I can confidently say this: AI is not replacing radiologists. It’s not even close. And those …

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How home-based AI can reduce health inequities in underserved communities [PODCAST]

Podcast
June 20, 2025
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Physician executive Sreeram Mullankandy discusses his article, “Bridging the digital divide: Addressing health inequities through home-based AI solutions.” The conversation highlights that while the future of health care delivery is moving into …

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Why interoperability is key to achieving the quintuple aim in health care

Tech
June 19, 2025

The vast majority of my physician colleagues understand the value of interoperability for their patients and their ability to deliver high-quality care.

In the rare cases that I encounter a clinician who is unsure of interoperability’s benefits, I simply tell them that it creates a situation where everyone wins: Providers deliver better, safer, less expensive care, and patients get more coordinated experiences.

Interoperability makes a strong, positive difference in the care I …

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How Mark Twain would dismantle today’s flawed medical AI

Tech
June 15, 2025

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) spent his youth deciphering the Mississippi River, a system far more complex than any artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm. He learned that real understanding demands nuance, context, and skepticism. Were he alive today, he’d likely see NarxCare, the controversial opioid-risk AI algorithm, as a cautionary tale about the dangers of replacing human judgment with lies, damn lies, and statistics.

NarxCare scores patients based on morphine milligram equivalents and …

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9 domains that will define the future of medical education

Tech
June 12, 2025

A comprehensive 2025 framework on medical education reform has laid bare a critical challenge: The traditional path to becoming a doctor is failing to meet the demands of modern health care. The consequences are stark: 70 percent of medical students report frequent feelings of burnout, persistent health disparities remain entrenched, and a median debt of $200,000 is pushing graduates away from essential careers in primary and public service care.

This new …

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Key strategies for smooth EHR transitions in health care

Tech
June 11, 2025

Healthcare organizations continue to face financial and operational efficiency pressures to implement or upgrade their electronic health record (EHR) systems, driven largely by the push for greater interoperability and the need to consolidate disparate systems. While the benefits of modern, integrated EHR systems are clear, the path to successful implementation remains complex and challenging for many organizations.

The foundation: Stakeholder engagement and leadership buy-in

The success of any EHR implementation hinges on …

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Why flashy AI tools won’t fix health care without real infrastructure

Tech
June 10, 2025

There’s a growing disconnect between the promises being made about artificial intelligence in health care and what’s being delivered. If you’re a health system leader, it’s time to take a discerning view—not because AI lacks potential, but because many of the solutions entering the market are more marketing than medicine.

We’ve seen this dynamic before.

Earlier this month, a fintech founder was charged with defrauding investors after promoting an AI-powered shopping app …

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Why innovation in health care starts with bold thinking

Tech
June 6, 2025

Let’s bust a myth: Health care is not just about rules, protocols, and playing it safe. In fact, real breakthroughs happen when we dare to think differently.

Whether it’s improving patient outcomes, solving staffing gaps, or designing more human-centered workflows, the future of health care demands creative thinking at every level.

And no—you don’t need to be an “artist” to be creative in medicine.

Why creativity is no longer optional

Health care is under …

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How self-improving AI systems are redefining intelligence and what it means for health care

Tech
June 5, 2025

Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, poised to reshape research, health care delivery, and medical decision-making. A new interactive slideshow delves into this shift, highlighting self-improving AI systems like the Darwin Gödel Machine and autonomous AI development.

Here are the key takeaways and their implications for medicine and beyond.

The age of self-improving AI has arrived.

Until recently, AI systems relied heavily on human engineers to design and tune their capabilities. That’s changing. The …

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How blockchain could rescue nursing home patients from deadly miscommunication

Tech
June 5, 2025

Imagine a health care team treating your elderly loved one—without the full picture. This is the reality of the U.S. health care system. Our system is failing nursing home residents, the most vulnerable population, by dragging out an outdated, inefficient data-sharing system. To improve nursing home care, health data must be efficiently shared and organized across hospitals and facilities, ensuring tailored treatments for patients with complex conditions. Unfortunately, existing Read more…

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