Thoughts on AI Rural Medical Care

Is there anything crazier than depending on AI, which has shown time and time again that it often puts out insane, and at times, dangerous advice? How about Dr. Mehmet Oz pitching AI medical care for rural areas that often lack nearby hospitals and doctors offices?

According to Dr. Oz, "There's no question about it… the best way to help some of these communities is gonna be AI-based avatars.” Dr. Oz is the head of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He made the statement at an Action for Progress event, a coalition aimed at improving behavioral health care. Well, isn’t that just great? Let’s put our mental health in the hands of the machines. Might as well just bring out the Terminators now!

Oz stated that AI could multiply the reach of doctors fivefold and avoid burnout. It’s part of the Trump administration's $50 billion plan to modernize health care in rural communities. It could include digital avatars to conduct basic medical interviews, and robotic systems for remote diagnostics. Oz even suggested replacing in-person obstetric care with AI-guided devices.

Rural hospitals are grappling with financial pressures. One nonpartisan research organization showed that 190 rural hospitals shut down between 2005 and 2024, or about 10% of all rural hospitals in the country, due to budget shortfalls. In some of those cases, population declines led to lack of financial revenues. My rural county, fortunately, still has a hospital despite losing nearly half its population over six decades.

Many others, though, have lost their only hospital, leaving residents to drive long distances for basic and emergency medical treatment — or skip it altogether. Across the United States, people living in rural counties are more likely to die early from causes such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, stroke, and injuries, than those in urban areas.

Personally, I accept any potential loss of my rural hospital as a cost of living in a place that’s quite, less taxed, has virtually zero crime, and with neighbors that actually care about each other. However, I wouldn’t trust said hospital with anything other than minor medical care. Anything serious… I’m making the 80-minute drive to the “big city”. Higher populations equal a larger talent pool to hire from, be it for doctors, electricians, or any other profession.

AI-based care I would trust even less than I presently trust pill-pushing doctors. Money already influences too many decisions in today’s world. Machines will only spit out more money-based decisions and advice. Rural populations shouldn’t be AI guinea pigs.

While AI may help with endless hours of paperwork, I still want an actual doctor making final decisions, overseeing diagnoses to be sure they’re correct, and a one-on-one meeting so they can understand any emotional aspect of care, such as... when does one finally decide to give in to the inevitable.

Maybe if we led healthier lives, paid our own way, and eliminated insurance and government control of what’s covered or not, physicians would have more time to spend with patients. AI may be an answer, but it’s a bad one in my opinion.

Source used: NPR