4 ms·

I think that the role of radiologists in the medical system is misunderstood. Radiologists are consultants. Yes, in some cases - many cases, even - you just wan

I think that the role of radiologists in the medical system is misunderstood. Radiologists are consultants. Yes, in some cases - many cases, even - you just want a result to an answer to a specific, common question from an imaging study. And in those cases, I am sure that deep learning-based readings will do a fine job. But for more diffuse inquiries, or for times when there is disagreement or uncertainty over a reading, radiologists are wonderful colleagues to engage in discussion. I'm not super interested in predicting employment trends, but it's hard to imagine a world where the radiologist-as-consultant disappears.

newyankee 5y ago
I really respect the intensity of training all medical practitioners have and the responsibility society puts on them. However i think there is an urgent need of reforming medical systems to leverage all the new trends in a responsible manner. Augmenting the capabilities of Doctors is one way, but better frictionless anonymised data sharing can also be very useful. However the only thing that prevents a success of new approach other than incumbents is that it is difficult to determine winners & losers of new approaches and it is likely that larger players have better chances of being more successful instead of many smaller players.
- potatoman22 5y ago
  That, and trying to standardize a data format for something as complex as a medical record
gowld 5y ago
> Yes, in some cases - many cases, even - you just want a result to an answer to a specific, common question from an imaging study And these questions are already outsourced to India.
koheripbal 5y ago
It's an oversimplification to say AI will replace xyz job. It seems more likely that AI will simply sift through the data more thuroughly and look holistically to catch things a radiologist might miss. A radiologist, for example, might miss spotting a small tumor in an xray taking for an unrelated hip injury. AI has a lot of complimentary value.
- pharmakom 5y ago
  I don’t see radiology work decreasing either. Instead, I think it will serve more people but at lower cost per person. No one will skip medical services if they can afford them, but currently prices are high. Imagine a future where a radiologist serves 10x customers as before by leveraging smart technologies, for similar overall compensation.
- carbocation 5y ago
  I agree with you and with the sibling comment!
- cloverich 5y ago
  It is a good point but I think one part is a bit backward in an ironic way. One reason AI hasn't replaced radiologists is because radiologists are typically very good physicians, and specifically do not look at images in isolation but review the record, talk with the physicians, sometimes the patients too, etc. So its actually backwards (in some cases) -- AI struggles because it looks at the image in isolation, while the radiologist is looking at the patient more holistically.
  - koheripbal 5y ago
    Radiologists don't talk to patients (usually), so there's no reason why AI cannot be given all the same patient data. ...although reading doctors' notes is probably a whole 'nother AI program.
    - ska 5y ago
      > .although reading doctors' notes is probably a whole 'nother AI program. yep. One that also has a long history, and a lot of current players - an nobody has really good traction there either.
- dx034 5y ago
  But aren't we already over-diagnosing some cancers? Spotting more tiny tumors in unrelated images might do more harm (through procedures/treatment) than ignoring them. I'm not sure if we're really better off detecting every anomaly in someone's body.

newyankee 5y ago

I really respect the intensity of training all medical practitioners have and the responsibility society puts on them. However i think there is an urgent need of reforming medical systems to leverage all the new trends in a responsible manner. Augmenting the capabilities of Doctors is one way, but better frictionless anonymised data sharing can also be very useful. However the only thing that prevents a success of new approach other than incumbents is that it is difficult to determine winners & losers of new approaches and it is likely that larger players have better chances of being more successful instead of many smaller players.

potatoman22 5y ago
That, and trying to standardize a data format for something as complex as a medical record

gowld 5y ago

> Yes, in some cases - many cases, even - you just want a result to an answer to a specific, common question from an imaging study And these questions are already outsourced to India.

koheripbal 5y ago

It's an oversimplification to say AI will replace xyz job. It seems more likely that AI will simply sift through the data more thuroughly and look holistically to catch things a radiologist might miss. A radiologist, for example, might miss spotting a small tumor in an xray taking for an unrelated hip injury. AI has a lot of complimentary value.

pharmakom 5y ago
I don’t see radiology work decreasing either. Instead, I think it will serve more people but at lower cost per person. No one will skip medical services if they can afford them, but currently prices are high. Imagine a future where a radiologist serves 10x customers as before by leveraging smart technologies, for similar overall compensation.
carbocation 5y ago
I agree with you and with the sibling comment!
cloverich 5y ago
It is a good point but I think one part is a bit backward in an ironic way. One reason AI hasn't replaced radiologists is because radiologists are typically very good physicians, and specifically do not look at images in isolation but review the record, talk with the physicians, sometimes the patients too, etc. So its actually backwards (in some cases) -- AI struggles because it looks at the image in isolation, while the radiologist is looking at the patient more holistically.
- koheripbal 5y ago
  Radiologists don't talk to patients (usually), so there's no reason why AI cannot be given all the same patient data. ...although reading doctors' notes is probably a whole 'nother AI program.
  - ska 5y ago
    > .although reading doctors' notes is probably a whole 'nother AI program. yep. One that also has a long history, and a lot of current players - an nobody has really good traction there either.
dx034 5y ago
But aren't we already over-diagnosing some cancers? Spotting more tiny tumors in unrelated images might do more harm (through procedures/treatment) than ignoring them. I'm not sure if we're really better off detecting every anomaly in someone's body.