The ideas and innovators shaping health care
| | | |  | | By Daniel Payne and Erin Schumaker | | | | 
In a new survey, most doctors said they aren't using AI, but expect the tools will have a positive effect on medicine. | AP | Family doctors are starting to adopt artificial intelligence in their practices — and they expect these tools will have positive impacts on medicine. That’s according to a new survey from the American Academy of Family Physicians and Rock Health, an advisory firm, which asked nearly 1,000 doctors about the tools. But it’s still early days. Most doctors surveyed don’t currently use AI tools — but the vast majority want to try them. Those who say they do largely use them for clerical support and managing information. And though most doctors aren’t using the tools at the moment, they’ve already broken through in a significant portion of practices: Nearly 1 in 5 use AI daily for clerical tasks, and nearly 15 percent use AI weekly to help with clinical decision making. More than 70 percent of respondents believe AI will reduce the time it takes to diagnose patients. More than half think the tools will positively impact clinician well-being, diagnostic accuracy, treatment strategies and patient satisfaction. But doctors predict a significant con of AI use: less job security. Why it matters: Creators of health AI tools emphasize that gaining clinician trust in their products is essential for widespread adoption in medical practice. Even so: Concerns remain among providers and patients about whether the tools undergo the same stress testing from regulators as other health tools, from drugs to medical devices — and how that will affect clinician trust.
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Lake George, N.Y. | Tymm Schumaker | This is where we explore the ideas and innovators shaping health care. When two AI agents talk to each other on the phone, they may start speaking in their own language to communicate faster. And AI-to-AI calls could be coming to the health arena, industry leaders say, meaning your insurer and provider might start talking with each other in these modem sounds. Share any thoughts, news, tips and feedback with Carmen Paun at cpaun@politico.com, Daniel Payne at dpayne@politico.com, Ruth Reader at rreader@politico.com, or Erin Schumaker at eschumaker@politico.com. Send tips securely through SecureDrop, Signal, Telegram or WhatsApp.
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NIH director nominee Jay Bhattacharya rose to prominence criticizing the government’s Covid-19 response. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | The Senate committee that oversees the National Institutes of Health has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Jay Bhattacharya, Donald Trump's pick to lead the agency, for Wednesday, March 5 at 10 a.m. The announcement today from Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.), came after Cassidy expressed support for Bhattacharya on social media last week after meeting with the Stanford professor. "Excellent conversation with Dr. Jay," Cassidy posted on X on Feb. 20. "He has a vision to restore faith in medical research for the American people, protect and improve the institution, and better distribute the benefits." Republicans have touted the free speech credentials Bhattacharya honed during the pandemic by standing up to the medical establishment and speaking out against lockdown measures. Even so: Senate Democrats are less likely to be convinced, given the turmoil at the NIH in recent weeks. Researchers, universities and health systems have sounded the alarm over staffing cuts at the agency, a Federal Register freeze that's halted the grant-funding pipeline and a 15 percent cap on indirect research costs since blocked in court. "The NIH does truly lifesaving work, and the world’s premier biomedical research agency needs a leader who believes in its mission to help keep people healthy and find the cures for diseases and is committed to respecting Congress’ power of the purse," Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) told POLITICO in a statement. "Not one who will gut research programs and families’ hopes and dreams of having a cure for diseases that take their loved ones too soon," said Baldwin, who is the top Democrat on the Appropriations panel that sets NIH funding. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | |
