Think about the potential of augmented intelligence is as a virtual clinical assistant, something that can aid you in mundane, repetitive tasks, improve your clinical workflows, and also offer insights and support your ability to care for your patients.
According to a survey to dermatologists in the US (July 2020) practical applications include:
- Electronic Health Record (EHR) assistance: generate documentation and visit summary while talking with the patient
- coding and billing
- prior authorizations paperwork filling
Clinically speaking, there was less enthusiasm but what if you could be reimbursed to utilize a noninvasive imaging device powered by AI to help your patients and you monitor a lesion over time, and to make a better clinical decision that is possible with your eye and dermatoscope alone
Again in the clinical setting when it comes to melanocytic nevi:
- what if your virtual clinical assistant could alert you to a mole that warrants a second look -highlighting you to a new mole that’s new since the last time you saw the patient ?
- reassuring you about a stability of a clinically atypical mole that you might otherwise have biopsied ?
- If it were possible would you prefer spending that added time connecting with your patients and making that they felt heard and seen and cared for ?
- Would deployment of a virtual clinical assistant help you bring more humanity back to your practice?
Reference: Justin Ko, MD. AAD Position Statement on Augmented Intelligence. Fusing technology with human Expertise to enhance Dermatological Care. 8th World Congress of Teledermatology, Skin Imaging and AI in Skin diseases – November 2020
