Is increasing digital “efficiency” in healthcare worth the deterioration of patient-physician interaction? by Avni Loya

Imagine walking into a hospital where a physician never places a stethoscope on your chest, never taps your knees to check your reflexes, and never counts down from ten while you wait in anticipation for a vaccine. Instead, an AI system, trained on billions of medical records, greets you through a computer when you walk in. It reviews years of your medical history, determines your treatment plan, and automatically pages nurses to discharge you, prescription in hand. A physician signs off on the AI's plan for you and moves on to review an AI-generated summary for the next patient within minutes. This vision, often referred to as the “iDoctor” model in JAMA, represents healthcare at its most technologically efficient (Yang et al. 2023). However, it raises a fundamental question: as medicine becomes increasingly digital, what happens to patient-physician interaction?

As distant and disturbing as this future might seem, we're closer than we think. Healthcare has been digitized in several substantial ways in the last decade, from increased automation and AI to wearables. Seventy-five percent of US hospitals use electronic health record systems, whereas UK and Australian hospitals have only recently begun investing in digitalizing their medical systems (Stoumpos et al. 2023). According to Northeastern University, “AI is starting to make a real impact on reducing healthcare errors by improving the accuracy of diagnoses and treatment plans through its extensive data analysis capabilities.” As a result, the AI healthcare technologies market is expected to be valued at $173.55 billion by 2029, only a few years in the future. Additionally, labor shortages in healthcare have motivated researchers to develop innovative solutions with AI. Approximately 6.5 million healthcare professionals are expected to leave their jobs in 2026, replaced by only 1.9 million new workers (Northeastern University 2024).

AI wearables and health devices that patients can purchase online are also growing in popularity. Everything from watches to toothbrushes is given medical superpowers: the ability to analyze sleep quality, measure heart irregularities, and even detect viral infections before symptoms occur. These devices increase healthcare accessibility and empower patients to take charge of their own health; however, users often forget they aren't replacements for physicians. As hospitals, clinics, and wearables become increasingly digitized, patient-doctor interactions are declining. A patient often doesn't need to visit a physician to receive treatment, and while this is “efficient,” what does it mean long-term?

A table of a few of the most influential medtech devices in 2026

Firstly, as AI becomes better at diagnosing using medical records, physical exams are being used less frequently. During a physical exam, a healthcare provider reviews your overall health from head to toe. This includes everything from evaluating basic organs, administering vaccines, and addressing any other questions or concerns (Cleveland Clinic 2023). According to KevinMD, “Physicians’ collective reaction to the decline in examination skills has been cool, a sort of resignation to a new form of practice” (2025). This is harmful in several ways. The physical exam is standard practice that allows doctors to accurately diagnose conditions in patients, and it's different from AI diagnostics. Physical exams allow doctors to notice immediate issues that require physical analysis, including hypertension, osteoporosis, and other conditions (KevinMD 2025). Even the best physicians misdiagnose patients, but as doctors stop conducting physical exams, these cases become more and more frequent.

Secondly, patients still value empathy and human interaction: they want to share concerns with a physician and trust them to design a treatment plan that works. A 2026 survey showed that over 66 million Americans consulted AI bots for their healthcare issues, but this wasn't enough. According to Westhealth, “Rather than replacing traditional care, more than half say they turn to AI to supplement their healthcare experiences, using the technology before or after seeing a doctor” (2026). Even though AI is being implemented in healthcare, patients need technology to complement their regular healthcare, not replace it.

Westhealth survey results table

Therefore, bedside communication and the ability to conduct physical exams are still essential medical skills. Patients value physician interaction, and conducting physical exams is necessary for diagnosing conditions. Though healthcare is becoming digitized, patients still need to have conversations with their providers, so the ability to communicate with compassion, demonstrate responsibility, and build trust with patients will always remain an essential skill for physicians. In conclusion, we are moving towards a digitized healthcare system, but by remembering the importance of patient-physician interaction, providers can preserve traditional medicine.

Citations

Yang, Y., et al. (2023). The iPatient meets the iDoctor: Digital technologies and the transformation of clinical practice. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9963556/

Tiga Health. (2023). Understanding the digitalization in healthcare: Its importance and benefits. https://www.tigahealth.com/understanding-the-digitalization-in-healthcare-its-importance-and-benefits/

Ramineni, A. (2025, June). When doctors forget how to examine: The danger of lost clinical skills. KevinMD. https://kevinmd.com/2025/06/when-doctors-forget-how-to-examine-the-danger-of-lost-clinical-skills.html

West Health. (2026). Millions of Americans now consult AI before, after, and sometimes instead of seeing a doctor. https://westhealth.org/news/millions-of-americans-now-consult-ai-before-after-and-sometimes-instead-of-seeing-a-doctor/

Studio Red. (2024). Medical technology examples. https://www.studiored.com/blog/eng/medical-technology-examples/

Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Physical examination. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17366-physical-examination

Northeastern University. (2024). Digital health trends. https://online.northeastern.edu/resources/digital-health-trends/