Beyond technical and logistical concerns, there’ s also an ethical component. As AI becomes more involved in decision-making, accountability grows complex. Who is responsible when an AI tool suggests a diagnosis or treatment that leads to harm? Physicians? Developers? Hospitals? These aren’ t trivial concerns, especially in a profession where liability and trust are paramount. As we integrate these technologies, we must ensure safeguards protect patients and practitioners.
Enter AI into the conversation. Is this going to be the fix for EMRs that takes us back to an era where we can spend more time taking care of patients? Is this going to ease our administrative burden, or is this going to be the introduction of a second-generation EMR, heavy on promise and light on delivery? Errors from AI are an obvious concern as is the fact that vast amounts of data need to be fed into AI for it to be optimally functional. Are our IT and medical systems equipped to keep up with the demand for data from AI?
Obviously, these questions are not easy to answer. I would encourage the medical community to stay apprised of the developments in this space. We need to be part of the narrative and not be as passive as we were in the past with EMR implementation. As intimidating as it may be, our input is vital to this technology being a net positive for our profession and our patients.
Best regards,
Suzanne Gharib, MD
West Virginia Medical Journal • June 2025 • 9