In a landmark 2016 study Johns Hopkins researchers estimated that more than 250,000 Americans die each year from treatment-related mistakes, making medical error the third-leading cause of death in the United States. As a former military flight surgeon trained in aviation accident investigations, I know well the hazards of misusing or mistrusting instruments.
Decades Ago, Pilots Learned to “Fly by Instruments.” Doctors Need to Do the Same
In a landmark 2016 study Johns Hopkins researchers estimated that more than 250,000 Americans die each year from treatment-related mistakes, making medical error the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Though health care is still in the early stages of adopting AI and digital technologies, it is already making great strides. In radiology such technology will augment human competence in image recognition. Digital technology now assists with detection of diabetic retinopathy, heart arrhythmias, and dermatologic diseases. Diabetes care will be enhanced through wearable sensors and AI to detect or prevent harmful hypoglycemic episodes. Remote monitoring will prevent or detect deterioration in chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and congestive heart failure, reducing costly hospital re-admissions. And technology has the potential to connect medical professionals across the continuum of care, reducing the potential for patients to fall through the cracks. But to realize the full potential of AI and other digital technologies we will need to overhaul medical education for future physicians and nurses and rethink professional development for current caregivers.