Published June 2024. Written by Courtney Murray, MPAS, PA-C.
As we all know, medicine is constantly evolving. Our dedication as PAs to helping patients is intricately intertwined with our responsibility of lifelong learning and our commitment to innovation that can change how we practice medicine every day. Each decade that passes we can count endless new advancements that have changed our approach to patient care – from the first smallpox vaccine in the 1790s to anesthetics in the 1840s, x-ray imaging in the 1890s to antibiotics in the 1920s, organ transplants in the 1950s to the start of the human genome project in the early 2000s. With technology regularly at our fingertips, the opportunities for growth are endless. However, this new era will likely lead to endless new questions. Will artificial intelligence (AI) be the biggest driver in the next major medical advancement? And what will that mean for healthcare providers?
There is no doubt that AI will play a major role in shaping the future of medicine. We have seen the steady development of AI-driven technology, such as robotic-assisted surgeries and technologically advanced prosthetics, change the lives of and improve the outcomes for countless patients. While AI has been around since before the turn of the century, the past few years, likely driven by the increased need for access to virtual medicine throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to previously unimaginable technological advancements, putting AI at the forefront of conversations worldwide. Some of the newest technology, such as electronic medical records and note writing applications, have grown leaps and bounds over a short period of time, highlighting how even small technological changes in an provider’s daily practice can have major effects. With an increased dedication amongst researchers, providers, and health systems to grow data sets utilized by AI technology, we can expect ongoing efforts to analyze patient data to improve quality of care and increase access to care while simultaneously decreasing healthcare costs.
AI was a hot topic at AAPA’s National Conference in Houston this year, including a main stage event titled, “How AI and the Superconvergence of Accelerating Technologies Will Shape Healthcare,” with keynote speaker Dr. Daniel Kraft, a physician-scientist and innovator. Over the course of his presentation, Kraft presented cutting-edge technologies that are transforming the relationship between patients and providers. By sharing real-world examples, Kraft offered perspective on how generative AI, machine learning, digital health, and extended reality can enhance clinical decision-making and empower healthcare professionals. Artificial intelligence was also a highly debated topic during the 2024 AAPA House of Delegates. Five new resolutions were proposed to the House of Delegates regarding AI, detailing the need for PAs to be aware of the positive and negative impacts AI can have on the PA-patient relationship, to consider the ethical ramifications of using AI in daily practice, and to promote innovation that improves patient care without taking away from the irreplaceable role PAs play in the healthcare team.
The risks and benefits of adopting these AI-driven technologies will likely be debated for years to come. While only time will demonstrate the effects that technology will have on medical care, as PAs, we have the unique ability to be at the forefront of these new innovations.