What AI means to my practice

As a podiatrist and user of artificial intelligence (AI), I have witnessed the value of this technology within my clinical practice and in my day-to-day life. However, I’ve also encountered scepticism and apprehension from fellow podiatrists, patients, and even my own family.

 

It’s time to highlight the practical considerations and broader implications of AI in podiatry.

 

How I use AI

Firstly, I would like to set expectations around how I use AI, and that is in its most basic form. I am not tech savvy. In fact, my only qualification for this article is that I am a millennial with a laptop, an iPhone, and a strong internet connection. I use AI mostly to make my day-to-day life more convenient, simplify routines, and become more efficient in my daily tasks.

 

Admittedly, my journey toward using AI daily has not been straightforward. Like many, I hold reservations and misconceptions about its role in society as a whole, let alone podiatric practice. I was also sceptical of the unknown; fearing that using AI would somehow diminish my capabilities as a clinician, replace my skill set and lower my intelligence.

 

In reality, what I have found is that not only can AI be an incredibly useful complement to my podiatric skills, but it is also already embedded into my non-podiatric life.

 

AI is incorporated into our daily lives across a wide range of areas. For example, navigating through heavy traffic when following Google Map’s directions; AI provides real-time updates, optimal routes, and accurate timeframes.

 

Virtual assistants are another example. For instance, asking Siri to make a phone call, send a text, create alarms or reminders are all examples of AI performing natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to perform a task. Another example is when Netflix makes recommendations on shows I may enjoy watching. Up until recently, I was naively under the impression that AI was limited to ChatGPT and literal robots who scoured the internet; collecting data and stealing jobs from people.

 

AI in a professional setting

My use of AI in a professional setting has developed over time. My first taste was when I googled ChatGPT (on incognito mode in Chrome to avoid embarrassment) to look up all possible drug interactions and side effects associated with Methotrexate for a patient. Well, to my surprise, and conveniently, a list was produced.

 

After cross-checking the accuracy, I forwarded this information onto the patient, who was grateful – we were both surprised as to how good ChatGPT had performed. This was the start of my deliberate use of AI, and I subsequently began to use AI to assist me with simple tasks such as definitions of pathologies and creating generic GP letter templates.

 

It is an incredibly convenient method to kick-start a task; then I can finish it off to make the necessary adjustments and changes. One thing that should be followed, however, is that confidential patient information needs to be respected and not entered into certain AI programs like ChatGPT. This information could be stored by a third party and hence breach patient confidentiality.

 

Clinical applications of AI in more detail

Elaborating on the clinical applications of AI mentioned, my preferred method of utilising AI is to deliver tailored education that meets my patients’ individual needs and comprehension levels. While I’m proficient in anatomical terminology and podiatry jargon as a clinician, this information frequently needs to be put into a format that can be easily understood by the patient. I’ve found that ChatGPT can be incredibly useful in helping to quickly translate into simple English what would otherwise be complicated medical terminology.

 

Building on these comments, it is also worth emphasising the speed at which AI performs these tasks. Within seconds, I can have the starting point of a letter or definitions for a patient at my fingertips, which has been produced to a reasonable standard that I can then polish up, edit and tailor for the relevant patient.

 

A word of caution

Whilst I find AI to be a convenient tool, there are numerous concerns surrounding its use that need to be managed.

 

As noted above, one of the principal concerns is the privacy of the data and ensuring patient confidentiality is being respected. For this reason, you should always ensure that only non-identifiable information is used (such as using no names under any circumstance). Its misuse could result in data breaches, identity theft, or discrimination.

 

Other concerns to manage include whether the AI product is in fact, correct in its content (you must always check the output and ensure it is correct – you cannot take it for granted), and for this reason, it should always be used with caution.

 

Lastly, and possibly the most important, is human-AI collaboration, and the looming question of, ‘Will AI take my job?’. Thankfully, podiatry is a hands-on profession – so I believe the short answer is no. As AI lacks personal experiences and consciousness, it cannot replace physical touch, rapport, and of course, skill. AI should be used to augment skills rather than replace expertise and judgment.

 

Despite these very real concerns, the rapid pace of technological advancement requires us to remain vigilant and adaptable to new things. We know that continuous learning and professional development are essential to stay ahead and relevant.

 

In this context, AI can be used appropriately to improve efficiency as professionals and to complement clinical practice. However, we must always remain aware of the concerns that exist with its use.