Medical schools told to teach future doctors how to use artificial intelligence

It is ‘essential’ that medical students are taught how to use artificial intelligence (AI) as part of their studies, the Medical Schools Council has recommended.

The representative body for UK medical schools said that at the point of graduating, doctors should be able to describe ‘basic principles’ of AI, as well as natural language processing, speech recognition and machine learning.

In a report published with Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), the council emphasised the importance of preparing medical students for an ‘increasingly technology-driven’ healthcare system.

They should have specific knowledge of AI, health informatics, data governance, and the ethical, professional, legal, and regulatory considerations surrounding digital health.

When it comes to AI, medical graduates should be able to:

Critique limitations and barriers of using AI in healthcare
Explain the importance of ‘rigorous’ real-world clinical validation of AI-based technologies before implementation in patient care
Describe application of automated image interpretation and pattern recognition in radiology, radiotherapy, and retinal photography
Discuss how integrating big data from different sources (including data in electronic health records, hospital records, medical records of patients and results of medical examinations) can yield useful insights into healthcare provision.

These recommendations will mean that medical schools can ensure that their graduates are ‘well-versed’ in the new technologies that are ‘shaping the future’ of healthcare, the report added.

Some of the competencies listed will already be covered by modules taught at medical schools, but these could be expanded to include digital health, according to the council.

The report said: ‘As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, integrating data science and technology into medical research and practice is becoming increasingly essential.

‘Advances in data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence have the potential to revolutionise patient care, biomedical research, and healthcare systems management.

‘As such, it is imperative that medical education evolves to equip future doctors with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and harness the power of data science effectively.’

Council chair Professor Patrick Maxwell said that medical schools ‘have a duty to patients’ to ensure that graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate new technologies.

He said: ‘We are already witnessing the transformative global impact of data in improving patient care, and it is crucial that the UK continues to preserve and enhance our world-class medical education.

‘We look forward to collaborating with medical schools to support the adoption of this framework, ensuring that the doctors of tomorrow are fully prepared for the healthcare system of the future.’

Professor Andrew Morris, director of Health Data Research UK, said that AI is ‘set to transform’ the way doctors deliver care.

He added: ‘We have a unique opportunity to reimagine medical education and the way we train future clinicians – not just to keep pace with technology, but to ensure they are equipped to navigate and lead in a data-driven healthcare system.

‘The UK has a proud history of world-class medical education, and this report lays the groundwork for a new generation of clinicians who can harness the power of data with confidence, unlock new discoveries and secure an NHS fit for the future.’

According to a report commissioned by Google, greater use of AI could provide an extra 3.7 million GP appointments each week within 10 years.

Recently NHS England enlisted the services of an AI company to help identify patients at high risk of A&E attendance and hospital referrals by GPs.

However, GP leaders have voiced their concerns regarding the developing use of AI in general practice, with LMCs voting in favour of a motion last year which said that ‘only a doctor with full training and appropriate levels of experience will be effective to challenge an AI’.

And GP practices in one area have been warned against using AI without seeking approval from their ICB first.