Our Summary

This research paper talks about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, focusing on a type of AI called “generative AI”. This kind of AI can create new content by understanding patterns in data. It’s been used in healthcare in three main ways: to help take care of patients, for education, and for research.

In patient care, generative AI can help manage clinical documents, support diagnosis, and plan surgeries. For example, Microsoft has teamed up with a company called Epic to use AI in electronic medical records, improving how clinical data is managed and how patients are cared for. Generative AI has also been used to help make decisions in surgeries such as plastic, orthopaedic and hepatobiliary surgeries.

However, there are some challenges with using this kind of AI in healthcare. It can sometimes be biased, imagine things that aren’t there (a problem called “hallucination”), and integrating it with electronic medical record systems can be difficult.

The paper also discusses a specific example of generative AI: a chatbot called NUHS Russell-GPT that was used in a hand surgery department. The chatbot was useful for administrative tasks, but there were challenges in using it for surgical planning and integrating it with electronic medical records.

Despite these challenges, the people who responded to a survey in the study were all in favor of using AI in clinical settings. The researchers conclude that generative AI could be used to improve patient care and make doctors’ work easier, starting with automating admin tasks and eventually helping with diagnoses, treatment plans, and surgical planning. They believe that, even though integrating AI into healthcare can be complex, the potential benefits for doctors and patients are huge.

FAQs

  1. How is generative AI being used in the healthcare industry?
  2. What are the challenges associated with using generative AI in healthcare?
  3. How was the NUHS Russell-GPT chatbot utilized in a hand surgery department?

Doctor’s Tip

A doctor might tell a patient undergoing hand surgery to follow post-operative instructions carefully, including keeping the hand elevated, exercising as recommended, and attending follow-up appointments for proper healing and rehabilitation. Additionally, they may advise the patient to communicate any concerns or changes in symptoms to their healthcare provider promptly.

Suitable For

Patients who are typically recommended for hand surgery include those with conditions such as:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome: a condition where there is pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, causing numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand.
  • Trigger finger: a condition where one of the fingers or thumb gets stuck in a bent position and then straightens with a snap, causing pain and discomfort.
  • Dupuytren’s contracture: a condition where the tissue underneath the skin of the palm and fingers thickens and tightens, causing the fingers to bend towards the palm.
  • Arthritis: patients with arthritis in the hand may require surgery to relieve pain, improve function, and prevent further joint damage.
  • Tendon injuries: patients with injuries to the tendons in the hand may require surgery to repair the damage and restore function.
  • Fractures: patients with fractures in the hand may require surgery to realign the bones and promote proper healing.

Overall, hand surgery may be recommended for patients with a range of conditions affecting the hand, wrist, and fingers that cannot be adequately treated with non-surgical methods.

Timeline

Before hand surgery, a patient typically experiences symptoms that require medical attention, such as pain, limited mobility, or deformity in the hand. They may undergo imaging tests, consultations with healthcare providers, and receive a diagnosis. The patient and their healthcare team then decide on a treatment plan, which may include hand surgery.

After hand surgery, the patient goes through a recovery period, which can involve pain management, physical therapy, and follow-up appointments with the surgeon. The patient gradually regains function in their hand and may require ongoing rehabilitation to fully recover. Ultimately, the goal of hand surgery is to improve the patient’s quality of life by restoring function and reducing pain in the hand.

What to Ask Your Doctor

  1. What specific type of hand surgery do you recommend for my condition?

  2. What are the potential risks and complications associated with the surgery?

  3. What is the expected recovery time and rehabilitation process after the surgery?

  4. How many times have you performed this type of surgery, and what is your success rate?

  5. Will I need physical therapy or other follow-up care after the surgery?

  6. Are there any alternative treatments or procedures that I should consider before opting for surgery?

  7. What are the possible long-term outcomes or effects of the surgery?

  8. How will my pain be managed during and after the surgery?

  9. Are there any specific lifestyle changes or precautions I should take before and after the surgery?

  10. How will the surgical team communicate with me and my family before, during, and after the surgery?

Reference

Authors: Tan RES, Teo WZW, Puhaindran ME. Journal: J Hand Surg Asian Pac Vol. 2024 Apr;29(2):81-87. doi: 10.1142/S2424835524300019. Epub 2024 Mar 26. PMID: 38553849