The More AI We Use, the More Patients Need Human Physicians | By: Nailah Kusi

Image Credit: Kaiser Permanente – Should Black Women Be Screened for Breast Cancer Earlier? 

By: Nailah Kusi

A.I also known as Artificial intelligence is changing healthcare in many ways. It can help doctors read imaging, organize patient information, and even suggest possible diagnoses. Before this internship, I thought AI would eventually be able to do almost everything. After hearing Dr. Waggel and Dr. Hiremath speak, I realized that AI is a great tool, but it should never replace the relationship between a doctor and a patient. 

One thing that really stood out to me was when Dr. Waggel talked about how some physicians are skipping the physical exam and ordering imaging right away. Imaging is an important part of medicine, but I don’t think it should replace examining the patient. A physical exam gives doctors information that they might not get from a scan alone. It also gives patients the opportunity to talk about their concerns and feel like someone is truly listening to them. 

Dr. Hiremath also mentioned that even when patients come in with scans from another hospital, they sometimes end up getting scanned again. Hearing that made me realize how much healthcare depends on technology today. There are definitely situations where repeat imaging is necessary, but I also think physicians should continue trusting their own clinical skills instead of depending on tests for every decision. 

The JAMA Perspective The iPatient Meets the iDoctor makes a similar point. The authors explain that as artificial intelligence becomes more common in healthcare, physical exams and face-to-face interactions become even more important instead of less important (Rosenthal & Verghese, 2026). AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace the trust that develops when a physician listens carefully, performs a physical exam, and gets to know the patient. 

I also don’t think AI can recognize everything that a physician notices just by walking into the room. A doctor might notice that a patient looks uncomfortable, is having trouble breathing, seems nervous, has difficulty walking, or simply doesn’t look like themselves. Those observations come from experience and from actually paying attention to the patient, not just what’s on a computer screen. 

I think empathy is another reason bedside skills will always matter. Patients want someone who will listen, answer their questions, and make them feel comfortable during what can be a stressful time. Technology can provide information, but it cannot replace compassion or make patients feel understood the way a physician can. 

As someone who wants to become a physician, this topic made me think about the kind of doctor I hope to be one day. I want to learn how to use AI because I know it can improve patient care, but I also want to remember that medicine is about more than technology. It’s about treating people with compassion, building trust, and taking the time to perform a thorough physical exam. I believe the best physicians in the future will know how to use AI while still putting their patients first. 

AI will continue to change medicine, but I don’t think it will ever replace the importance of bedside skills, empathy, and the human connection between physicians and patients. Those are the qualities that inspired me to pursue medicine, and I hope they continue to be just as important in the future. 

References 

Rosenthal, D. I., & Verghese, A. (2026). The iPatient Meets the iDoctor. JAMA.