By MIKE MAGEE
As Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman once said, “Productivity isn’t everything, but in the long run it is almost everything.” With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health care, experts like Krugman and economist Erik Brynjolfsson are exploring the potential for transformation in the industry. AI, particularly generative AI, holds promise in delivering meaningful improvements in health care more rapidly than past technologies.
Despite historical challenges in integrating new technologies in health care, the speed and self-corrective capabilities of AI offer hope for overcoming these obstacles. Experts like Robert M. Wachter, known for coining the term “hospitalist,” and Brynjolfsson are optimistic about the potential of AI to revolutionize health care systems by addressing inefficiencies, inequities, and accessibility issues. With the ability to personalize health prevention and maintenance, automate tasks, and improve outcomes, AI has the potential to reshape the future of health care in America.
As we move towards a data-driven health care system, the collaboration between AI and human expertise could lead to significant improvements in patient care, cost savings, and overall health outcomes. By leveraging the power of AI, we may be on the brink of a transformative era in health care that could benefit all Americans.
Mike Magee MD is a Medical Historian and regular contributor to THCB. He is the author of CODE BLUE: Inside America’s Medical Industrial Complex (Grove/2020).
