Getting an accurate diagnosis can take time because medical professionals must rule out many things to find the best diagnosis and treatment based on your health history. Artificial intelligence (AI) might make that experience smoother. Learning about its role in personalized medicine could change your understanding of how the technology assists doctors in helping their patients.
What Is Personalized Medicine?
Personalized medicine is precision health care that provides individualized or custom treatment plans based on a person’s health history. (1) Their doctor might adopt a standard approach because they experienced less progress with it during a previous attempt. Precision medicine also occurs when researchers create tailored drugs or procedures for a patient’s makeup.
Benefits of Using AI in Health Care Settings
Implementing AI programs in health care businesses could benefit both patients and physicians. There are numerous ways it supports everyone’s experience within the health care system in targeted settings.
1. Language Learning Models Could Answer Patient Questions
After your doctor sends you home with care instructions, you may not have any questions until hours or days later. Reaching them over the phone might not always work if they operate a busy clinic. They could also ask you to come back for another appointment, which is costly and time-consuming. AI models might become a more common resource for patients seeking advice.
Experts found that 44% of people were willing to trust AI diagnoses in 2022. (2) People know the programs form responses around relevant data. Asking for tips about protocols or healing strategies your doctor has already arranged could help you heal more quickly.
2. Predictive Analytics Supports Disease Prevention
Complex conditions like systemic diseases affect multiple tissues and organs throughout the body. (3) Doctors must track relevant information from your health history and current concerns to understand what’s developing in your body. If they have AI assistants managing the same data, they could note more likely developments. You may get ahead of diagnoses with personalized preventive medicine if AI is part of your physician’s workplace.
3. Diagnostic Accuracy May Improve
Researchers found that large language models (LLMs) scored 2% higher on diagnostic reasoning tests than participating physicians. (4) The small percentage isn’t significant but may be notable. If medical experts combine their understanding of your health history with the diagnostic accuracy of an AI program, you could get better diagnoses and timely treatments.
4. AI Can Tailor Treatment Plans
A doctor might recommend physiotherapy for someone hoping to reduce their arthritis pain because it’s a proven mitigation resource. (5) If they made that recommendation alongside an AI program, the LLM could point out how adding temperature might complement your pain management experience. The data would come from your health records, providing patient-focused suggestions that achieve even better results.
5. Computers Pull External Data
AI programs can support a doctor’s understanding of their patient by automatically reviewing their records and pulling data from the local region. Outside influences may be more challenging to connect to symptoms without the additional perspective.
Varying climate disasters could affect your water, food, and air through wildfire smoke or flooded waterways. (6) If you’re experiencing lung pain a month after living close to a lingering wildfire, an AI program might note that potential concern. A doctor might not think to connect the two details if too much time passes or they’re unaware that your address was close to the blaze.
6. AI Tools Provide Real-Time Personal Data
Smart health devices can track your heart rate and note your progress, but you may have more success reaching your health goals if an AI assistant studies those factors in real time. (7) The program can make recommendations using ever-changing details about your life, like which exercises you should do based on the sleep quality you experienced the night before. Your doctor won’t be present in those moments, but an AI program could continue personalizing your health care long after you leave an appointment.
Factors to Consider Regarding AI Health Care Tools
While AI could be essential in precision health care, people should also remain aware of potential challenges. If you and your doctor understand the whole picture, you’ll know how to use the technology more effectively for custom approaches to your conditions.
AI Data May Have Inherent Biases
LLMs can only provide results based on data. People log the data into their clinic’s computer systems, so there’s a risk of inherent biases in AI recommendations.
Industry leaders note that some AI models underdiagnose conditions in minority populations because the physicians inputting the data overlook them. (8) If health care staff receive inherent prejudice training and remain vigilant, they can reduce the risk of biased recommendations.
Digital Security Should Be Robust
Upgrading the technology in any workplace requires financial investment. A health care team may purchase an AI program to assist with personalized medicine but forget about strengthening their digital security efforts. While they can update their antivirus software to protect data from some breaches, it’s not a perfect solution. (9)
Offices combining AI tools and sensitive data should also have in-house or outsourced IT support. You’ll know your medical information is safe from potential cyber threats if your doctor’s office cares about their digital security as much as the latest AI tools.
AI Is Constantly Improving
A 2024 McKinsey study found that 78% of respondents used AI within their organizations — a 55% increase from 2023. (10) Using advanced programs could push precision medicine into the future, but the progress won’t last long if teams never update their original AI systems. Newer LLMs might have more effective tools for compiling and reading patient data.
If a team relies on the same system forever, it may not provide as high-quality personalized medicine benefits as other local clinics. You could ask how often they update their AI tools to understand better if you’re getting leading health care services or need to look elsewhere.
Anticipate a Future of AI Personalized Medicine
The world of personalized medicine is constantly changing to meet each patient’s needs. AI has become an essential tool for doctors tailoring treatments. Once you know how AI can support medical teams and provide better patient experiences, you’ll walk into your next check up more informed about how your health can improve.