Is the Physical Exam Becoming a Lost Skill in the AI Era? | By: Samiha Saifudeen

By: Samiha Saifudeen

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing medicine. From interpreting medical images to drafting clinical notes, AI has the potential to improve efficiency and help physicians make faster decisions. However, as technology becomes more advanced, an important question arises. Are we losing one of the most fundamental parts of medicine, the physical exam? 

During our internship, Dr. Waggel shared that many physicians now skip parts of the physical examination and rely on imaging studies instead. Rather than carefully examining the patient first, it has become common to order CT scans, MRIs, or ultrasounds early in the diagnostic process. While these technologies provide valuable information, they should complement a physician's clinical judgment, instead of fully replacing it. 

Dr. Hiremath described another concerning trend. Even when patients arrive with imaging performed at another hospital, they are often scanned again. Sometimes this is medically necessary because the images are unavailable, outdated, or of insufficient quality. However, repeat imaging can also increase healthcare costs, expose patients to unnecessary radiation in some cases, and delay treatment. His observation highlights how heavily modern medicine depends on technology. 

These experiences closely relate to a recently published JAMA Perspective, The iPatient Meets the iDoctor, by David I. Rosenthal and Abraham Verghese. The authors argue that as AI becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, the importance of the physical examination and face-to-face interaction actually grows rather than decreases. They warn that physicians risk focusing more on digital information than on the person sitting in front of them, creating both an "iPatient" represented by data and an "iDoctor" interacting primarily through a screen. 

The physical exam provides information that AI and imaging alone cannot always capture. A physician may notice that a patient struggles to walk into the room, appears anxious, has yellowing of the skin, or speaks with unusual pauses. These subtle observations often guide the next steps in diagnosis before any test is ordered. An experienced physician combines these findings with a patient's history to build a more complete understanding of their condition. 

Equally important is the human connection. Patients value physicians who listen carefully, explain their concerns, and make them feel heard. Trust is built through eye contact, conversation, and compassion, not through algorithms. While AI may recognize patterns in laboratory values or imaging, it cannot fully understand a patient's emotions, fears, or personal experiences. 

AI will undoubtedly become an essential tool in medicine, but it should remain exactly that. The best healthcare will come from combining advanced technology with strong clinical skills and meaningful patient relationships. As the JAMA Perspective suggests, the future does not require less human interaction; it requires more. Technology should free physicians to spend more time at the bedside, not less.

The future of medicine should not be a choice between AI and physicians. Instead, it should be a partnership where AI enhances medical decision-making while physicians continue to provide the observation, empathy, and clinical judgment that no machine can replace. 

References

1. Rosenthal DI, Verghese A. The iPatient Meets the iDoctor. JAMA. Published online July 27, 2026. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2852129 2. Angus DC, O'Connor MB. AI Scribes Are Here, but Is Health Care Ready? JAMA. 2026. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2848666