Health IT

From rural communities to underserved populations: How telemedicine is bridging health care gaps

Physician
March 23, 2023

Telemedicine, the practice of delivering health care services remotely using technology, has become increasingly popular in recent years. The potential for reduced health care costs, improved efficiency, and greater accessibility for patients and providers alike have driven its adoption. In this article, we will investigate the economic benefits of telemedicine, examining its impact on health care expenditure, its ability to enhance patient care, and its role in mitigating the strain …

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The rise of generative AI in health care: Here’s what you need to know

Tech
March 21, 2023

It has been an exciting several weeks for AI enthusiasts worldwide, particularly those in health care.

OpenAI recently released GPT-4, a major upgrade over ChatGPT. Microsoft updated Bing search engine and Office365 business applications Word, Powerpoint, and Excel will run on GPT-4. Google announced PaLM API and MakerSuite, which enables developers to experiment with Large Language Models (LLM), whereas MakerSuite allows quick prototypes.

These generative AI announcements from OpenAI, Microsoft, …

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Breaking down barriers: How technology is improving diabetes management in underserved communities

Conditions
March 20, 2023

Despite advancements in health information technology (HIT), the prevalence of diabetes in the United States continues to be high and is the seventh leading cause of death. Diabetes management in underserved communities has challenges concerning health care access for high-risk groups, often resulting in debilitating health outcomes worsened by adverse socio-economic consequences. Optimal HbA1c levels, controlled for by risk reduction, are essential. If diabetics encounter barriers to health care services, …

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How to overcome telemedicine’s biggest obstacles

Physician
March 20, 2023

The global health care sector has undergone a digital revolution, with telemedicine at the forefront of this transformation. Telemedicine offers promising opportunities to enhance patient care, reduce costs, and expand access to health care services. However, its widespread adoption faces several challenges that must be addressed for its full potential to be realized. This article discusses the barriers to telemedicine adoption and provides strategies for successful implementation by health care …

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Can AI solve the physician shortage crisis?

Tech
March 19, 2023

A 2021 Merritt Hawkins article reports increasing physician shortfalls in the U.S. while pointing out that almost 50 percent of all currently practicing physicians are older than 55. In some medical specialties, the “greater-than-55” physician numbers are between 60 to 90+ percent.

Similar findings have been confirmed in an updated January 2023 Becker’s Hospital Review article. These recent reports estimate that there will be a …

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Bridging the digital divide: How to bring trust back into the patient-physician relationship

Tech
March 15, 2023

Health care’s journey into the digital era hasn’t always been smooth sailing. While the rapid proliferation of digital health tools has produced some major benefits both inside and outside the clinic, these technologies have also created a number of new challenges across the care continuum.

From learning new workflows to wrestling with data access and integrity concerns, clinicians are practicing in a world that looks very different from just a mere …

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Can foundation AI models like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard be used for automating medical scribing?

Tech
March 14, 2023

Foundation models like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard are derived from natural language processing, machine learning, and deep learning algorithms. These models use transfer learning mechanisms to convert texts to summaries. Using foundation models is becoming an increasingly important topic for health care providers using digital technologies. One of the biggest challenges in the health care industry is clinical documentation. Can these foundation models be used to automate medical scribing? Not …

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ChatGPT: How generative AI is revolutionizing health care

Tech
March 13, 2023

Over the past decade, I’ve kept a close eye on the emergence of artificial intelligence in health care. One truth remained constant: Despite all the hype, AI-focused startups and established tech companies alike have failed to move the needle on the nation’s overall health and medical costs.

Finally, after a decade of underperformance in AI-driven medicine, success is approaching faster than physicians and patients currently …

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The paradox of health IT: Improving care, impeding communication

Physician
March 12, 2023

Advancements in health IT have created ease and efficiency in delivering health care that has never been seen before. Electronic ordering and prescribing have reduced medication errors from misinterpreting handwritten information. The interoperable transmission of critical patient history, lab work, and digital imaging from one hospital to another has reduced costs and unnecessary extraneous tests. Virtual care and telehealth utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionized how patient encounters are …

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The rise of chatbots for patient empowerment

Tech
March 12, 2023

Giving patients the information, abilities, and resources they need to actively participate in their care is at the heart of the critical health care concept known as patient empowerment. Health care professionals can increase patient involvement, boost health outcomes, and maximize the use of health care resources by empowering people. In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in using technology to encourage patient empowerment. Chatbots, in particular, …

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The dangers of sharing personal health information online: Protecting your privacy and health

Tech
March 11, 2023

As the internet has become increasingly accessible, many individuals have turned to online platforms, such as ChatGPT  and “Doctor Google,” to search for information about their symptoms and health concerns. While these resources can help provide individuals with a general understanding of their symptoms, there are risks associated with self-diagnosis and relying on online resources for medical advice. Another trend is patients inadvertently putting their personal medical information at risk …

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Transforming health care with AI: Google Bard and BioGPT lead the way

Tech
March 8, 2023

Generative language models such as Google Bard and BioGPT are two cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to revolutionize Health care by providing accurate and reliable information to patients and health care professionals alike. Google Bard is powered by LaMDA and trained on web data, while BioGPT is developed by Microsoft and trained on biomedical literature. Both models can perform various tasks, such as answering questions, extracting relevant data, and …

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Physicians spending more time with computers than patients

Physician
March 6, 2023

Recently I tried to log onto my hospital system’s electronic health record to check on the status of a patient. This patient is elderly, severely mentally incapacitated, and being cared for by physicians on the neurology service. Her son, a practicing physician at the same facility, had not received a return phone call from any of the inpatient physicians and wanted to know why his mom needed a lumbar puncture …

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The hidden consequences of portal message fees

Physician
March 3, 2023

As the health care industry continues to evolve, many practices and hospitals have turned to electronic portals to communicate between patients and their providers. However, some practices have begun charging patients a fee for responding to messages sent through these portals. While this may seem like a viable solution for increasing revenue, it could ultimately have negative implications for the care of patients.

One major issue with charging patients for portal …

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Why human touch matters in health care: the limitations of AI

Tech
February 28, 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) can transform many industries, including health care. AI can improve the accuracy and efficacy of medical diagnoses and treatments due to its ability to analyze vast amounts of data and make predictions. However, there are many reasons why AI cannot replace human clinicians. Despite its impressive capabilities, AI still lacks critical qualities essential for providing quality medical care. This article will explore ten reasons AI cannot replace …

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Health care’s future with ChatGPT: Exploring the potential of AI in medicine [BONUS PODCAST]

Podcast
February 10, 2023
YouTube video

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In this episode, we are joined by Harvey Castro, a physician, health care consultant, and serial entrepreneur, to discuss the exciting potential of the generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) in the field of medicine and health care. ChatGPT …

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Only physicians can find the balance between tradition and active disruption

Physician
February 10, 2023

It is clear to most of us who practice medicine that the medical system is at a crossroads unlike any other in recent history, between competing crises of uncontrolled medical costs, escalating administrative burdens, consolidation and employment of physician practices, burnout, and the rapid development and entrance of new, largely untested technologies. I am sure that I am not alone as a physician who wonders what will the medical system …

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How female physicians are changing the game for women entrepreneurs [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 9, 2023
YouTube video

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

In this episode, we have Samantha Lai, a medical student as our guest. She will discuss the disparity in venture capital investment for startups led by women, and how this gap can be narrowed by encouraging female …

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AI in health care: Meeting HIPAA standards with ChatGPT

Tech
February 8, 2023

New technologies are introduced to enhance the quality of care and make the work of health care professionals more efficient. ChatGPT is one such technology; it is a robust language model that can comprehend and respond to input in natural language. ChatGPT has the potential to significantly enhance the work of health care professionals and improve patient care, even though some may be concerned that the use of such technology …

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