Freedom from Desk Work - ChatGPT Transforms the Daily Life of Doctors
Yudai Kaneda
School of Medicine, Hokkaido University
Who knew being a doc was like, almost every day sitting in front of the PC?!
This was the first thought that struck me as I began my hospital internship. It's a sentiment that might resonate with many in the healthcare profession and one that I've pondered deeply over my time in a clinical setting.
Morning and evening rounds are staples of hospital care for inpatients, but outside of these interactions and special treatments, doctors are often found in front of their computers. From generating paperwork to verifying lab test orders and interpreting diagnostic images, it's surprising to find that a doctor's life can be tough on both eyes and back.
Research suggests that direct patient care may occupy less than one-third of a physician's time, with the majority being dedicated to desk-bound tasks. This imbalance prompted me to explore how the latest AI technology could reshape our medical practices.
In a recent study, which you can review in detail below:
In this study, I simulated virtual patient scenarios to evaluate the potential benefits of AI in medicine.
The results were enlightening. By integrating ChatGPT with the free transcription app CLOVA NOTE, we found a significant boost in efficiency for doctors writing medical records. The AI-generated summaries were nearly indistinguishable in quality from those made by seasoned physicians.
Though ChatGPT's implementation in healthcare is just beginning, there's a growing momentum for its use in administrative settings. Our goal is to reduce the burden of desk work on doctors, freeing them to spend more time with patients—thus ending the era of the 'computer-gazing' doctor and bringing a new sense of warmth back to medicine.
As a medical student, I am excited about the possibility of contributing to an innovation that could become deeply embedded in the reality of medical care. It's a future where technology doesn't just support healthcare providers but enhances the precious human connection at the core of our practice.