Beyond the Scan: Why the Physical Exam Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI | By: Gloria Zhang

Figure 1. Physical examination. Note. Adapted from The Importance of Undergoing Your Annual Physical Exam, by Family Medicine and Wellness, January 10, 2023. https://familymedicineandwellness.com/the-importance-of-undergoing-your-annual-physical-exa m/ 

The future of medicine seems to involve many algorithms, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge technology, especially with the rise of AI in recent years. AI is rapidly transforming healthcare, helping summarize medical documents, interpret imaging results, and even assist physicians in making diagnoses. While these advances have enormous potential, they also raise an important question: As technology becomes more capable, are physicians losing the valuable skill of the physical exam? 

During our Summer 2026 Pre-Health internship, Dr. Waggel has stated that nowadays, many physicians are increasingly relying on imaging studies like MRIs instead of performing comprehensive physical examinations first. Furthermore, one of our guest speakers Dr. Hiremath, a radiologist, stated that patients are often rescanned even when they already have imaging from another hospital, contributing to higher healthcare costs, unnecessary testing, and delays in care. These experiences highlight a growing concern: technology is becoming a substitute for bedside medicine rather than a tool that complements it. 

Recently, a perspective piece by the Journal of the American Medical Association came out titled "The iPatient Meets the iDoctor," which discusses how as AI becomes a part of medicine, face-to-face interactions and physical examinations become even more essential, not less. Rather than replacing physicians, AI should allow them to spend more time with patients and strengthen the human aspects of medicine that technology cannot replicate. 

Many people perceive the physical examination as nothing more than the collection of clinical data. Yet recent scientific studies show that the physical examination plays an even more significant role than many might realize. The physical examination is not just a technique for diagnosing problems. It is also an effective method of creating trust between doctors and patients. With a good and thorough physical examination, a doctor can demonstrate empathy, educate the patient, and develop a good therapeutic alliance. Basic procedures like auscultation of the heart, examining the reflexes, or palpation of the abdomen show the patient that his concerns are heard. This interaction contributes to patient trust, communication, and compliance, which shows that the physical exam is important for therapy as well as diagnosis (Whitford et al., 2024). 

This connection between humans cannot be replicated by any AI. AI is efficient in terms of analyzing the already existing data, including laboratory results, images, and documentation, but doctors acquire a great deal of information before patients say a single word. A good physician will pick up on certain findings just from entering the room, like the patient’s facial expression, the color of his skin, respiratory patterns, posture, walk, body language, or general appearance. All this information can influence the remainder of the exam and helps detect problems not visible in any imaging test. 

An article by Stanford Medicine 25: Promoting the Culture of Bedside Medicine supports this, emphasizing that the 3 senses of touch, sight, and hearing can allow physicians to detect subtle abnormalities that imaging can overlook or misinterpret. Physical examination findings also provide essential clinical context that improves diagnostic reasoning. AI can process information well, but it depends on the quality of the information it receives. If the physical findings entered into the medical record are incomplete or inaccurate, AI's recommendations may also be flawed. 

Often, patients may remember more of how their physicians have made them feel than the diagnosis they were given. By being at their bedsides, listening intently, and conducting a physical exam, physicians show their compassion and respect towards their patients. Even though AI can identify trends, it cannot replace the therapeutic touch of a doctor, create an element of trust, or give emotional support. Medicine has always been not only a science but also a relationship between a patient and a doctor. The physical exam is one of the best examples of such a relationship.

In fact, as AI technology will become more advanced, the value of the physical exam will increase even more. The doctor, who possesses both advanced technology and skills, which are necessary for conducting bedside exams, will always remain irreplaceable. 

References 

Hosamani P, Chi J, Keet K, Hom J. The iPatient Meets the iDoctor. JAMA. 2026. 

Whitford T, Goldberg C, Frishman WH, Etienne M. Touch, Trust, and Truth: Why the Physical Exam Still Matters in the Age of AI: A Framework for the Physical Exam as a Bridge to Trust, Healing, and Increased Patient Adherence. Clinical Research in Cardiology. 2024. doi:10.1097/CRD.0000000000001214. 

Paulsen L. In the Age of AI, Bedside Physical Exam Skills Matter More Than Ever. Stanford Medicine 25. July 10, 2026.