Family physicians ready to try AI in practice

© Anhen Design - stock.adobe.com

The time is right for family physicians to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the primary care workflow, according to a new survey.

Digital health care firm Rock Health and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) conducted a survey that showed optimism about using AI in primary care — though they were uncertain whether patients would see some benefits.

“Family physicians believe AI could reduce administrative burdens, allowing more focus on patient care. However, concern remains about AI's ability to replace human judgment, with many clinicians stressing that AI should serve as a support tool, not a substitute for a well-trained physician,” AAFP Chief Medical Informatics Officer Steven E. Waldren, MD, said in a news release.

“Family physicians are eager for tools that enhance care without compromising patient trust or adding undue complexity to their already complex practice environments,” he said.

Demand is high

It appears there is a demand from physicians to implement AI into their patient care. For assistance with administrative functions, 75% of respondents said they had never used an AI program, but would like to try one. Level of desire rose to 77% for population management and 81% for behavioral health support; the lowest finding was 63% for clinician clerical support.

AI vs. EHR

Among physicians and other clinicians using AI currently, a full 92% said they used it at least weekly to manage electronic health records, with 87% using it daily. Other uses included clinical decision support, with 81% of physicians using AI at least weekly and 52% using it daily; telemedicine, with 66% using it weekly and 33% daily; and patient engagement, with 74% using it at least weekly and 55% daily.

“Physicians’ tech savviness extends beyond work — nearly 70% of respondents said they’re likely or very likely to adopt new digital tools personally, and a third said they actively seek out new technologies,” the Rock Health report said.

Who gets to pick?

So far, doctors have not had much input in deciding what AI programs to use, with 65% reporting limited influence on selecting such a program. That finding is not necessarily a surprise as the health care sector has shifted from physician-owned and -led practices to a model with doctors employed by hospitals and health care systems, according to Rock Health.

“AI solution purchasing often happens at the organizational level, driven by health system executives or other leaders outside of the practice setting,” the Rock Health report said. “Given the high costs, inherent risks, and desire for consistency across organizations, top-down decision making is the norm. However this also creates vulnerability: AI’s long-term success in primary care will ultimately depend on the buy-in of those using the tools.”

Mixed predictions

Looking out in the next three years, primary care physicians said they anticipate positive or very positive effects on time to diagnosis (73%), clinician well-being (70%), diagnostic accuracy (66%), and clinician workload (66%). They were less optimistic about personalization of care (48%), patient volume (47%), clinician-patient relationships (45%) and clinician job security (30%).

“AI and digital health tools offer exciting possibilities for transforming primary care, but their success hinges on trust, usability and clinician support,” Rock Health CEO Katie Drasser said in the news release. “As adoption continues to grow, listening to physicians and partnerships like that of the AAFP and Rock Health are essential in guiding the primary care community toward a future where AI complements, rather than complicates, clinical practice.”

The survey was administered to 1,267 respondents from Sept. 18 to Nov. 4, 2024, using a web-based survey platform.