Let’s imagine the possibilities and theoretically demo the results based on current knowledge:
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yes AI made the process fast and the patient did not die unnecessarily.
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same but the patient died well.
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same but the patient died.
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same as either 1, 2, or 3 but AI made things slower.
Demo:
Pharmacy: Patient requires amoxicillin for a painful infection of the ear while allergic to penicillin:
AI: Sure! You will find penicillin in Isle 23 box number 5.
Pharmacy: the patient needs amoxicillin actually.
AI: Sure! The Patient must have an allergic reaction to more commonly used anti inflammatory medications.
Pharmacy: actually amoxicillin is more of an antibiotic, where can I find it?
AI: Sure! While you are correct that amoxicillin is an antibiotic, it is a well studied result that after an infection inflammation is reduced. You can find the inflammation through out the body including the region where the infection is located.
Pharmacy: amoxicillin location!
AI: Sure! Amoxicillin was invented in Beecham Research Laboratories.
Actual pharmacist here, working in pharmacy IT.
Unlike other industries, Pharmacy is not particularly thrilled about or interested in AI. In fact, my hospital explicitly blocks access to all LLMs.
I was actually kind of hoping to see what Microsoft is claiming here, and just walked away from this post more confused.
I think it’s in reference to this: https://news.microsoft.com/source/asia/features/taiwan-hospital-deploys-ai-copilots-to-lighten-workloads-for-doctors-nurses-and-pharmacists/
Looks like the benefit/headline comes from use of the entire software suite that provides access to a patient’s chart/medical history including checks for interactions/allergies. Most of that has nothing to do with AI but since it has a feature that generates a summary via a language model the whole thing is marketed as an AI Copilot.
What baffles me is why would you use an LLM when what you need is a digital inventory manager. Not bashing your argument’s merits. On the contrary, I think it depicts very well how people will shove AI-marketed shit on already-solved problems and make everyone’s lives worse because it’s ✨modern✨.
It’s the same crap like with blockchain.
People have no idea how sophisticated modern IT systems already are, and if you glue fancy words on solved problems, people will cheer you for being super innovative.
Ugh, blockchain. During the pandemic, I had absolutely no work to do so my boss asked me to make a presentation for him to present on the merits of blockchain. When my response was that it’s overhyped bullshit, he was not thrilled.
I made the requested presentation but it made me feel dirty, so I alt texted every slide’s graphics to include the counterpoint to the bullshit benefits being presented.
It’s not if you actually know what it is and what it’s for… A trustless public ledger.
I’ll take the non-AI using pharmacist for the win. Thank you very much.
This post could have been titled “BS from MS about Al helping an MD”
My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
As a non pharmacist I recommend you take two mitooroxenloxen and then read the title one more time today 😉. Today is your day! Go out there and fuck something up!
I read it as AI somehow making more people sick therefore more of them needing to go see pharmacists, therefore pharmacists seeing more patients
