June 13, 2016

A Computer that Allows Doctors to be More Human

IBM’s Watson may give doctors more time with patients

IBM-Watson_650x450

By Toby Cosgrove, MD

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

With 43,000 medical journals, 79,000 clinical trials, and more than 25 million citations for biomedical literature on PubMed, the sheer volume of available medical information daunts even the most seasoned physician.

As a physician, it’s impossible to assimilate this volume of knowledge while also managing the complex cases – including diagnoses, blood tests, histories, DNA tests, algorithms, treatment plans and x-rays, CAT scans and other images – of hundreds of patients. And more is on the way; some predict the amount of medical data doctors can use to impact diagnoses and treatment will double every 73 days by 2020.

Watson, PA

Abundant medical research is a good problem to have, and a solution is on the way. IBM’s Watson will help us wade through this mass of data efficiently and meaningfully. The supercomputer is still in medical school at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Upon graduation, Watson will use its cognitive computing to not just gather data, but understand, learn and find meaning in it, delivering suggested diagnoses and treatments.

Advertisement

Some have begun to refer to it as Watson, MD. I prefer to think of it Watson, PA, or physician’s assistant, because it will inform rather than make patient care decisions. Today’s doctors are smarter and better trained than ever. Technology will never replace the doctor, but it can make us better.

Less robotic, more human

By allowing Watson to crunch and cross-reference data and patient information, human doctors will have more time to spend with patients – talking to them, listening to them, understanding them. It may sound odd, but technology like Watson will make healthcare less robotic and more human.

Dr. Cosgrove is CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic.

Advertisement

Photo Credit ©IBM

Related Articles

23-CCC-4375920 Zipline drone delivery 650×450
November 21, 2023
Delivering Drugs via Drone

Cleveland Clinic will offer rapid, pinpoint airborne transport of medications and other medical items

SEM_Knipfer_3797162_Mentor Hospital Community Grand Opening_06-2
August 28, 2023
How Cleveland Clinic Is Greening Its Operating Rooms

Dedicated committee and surgical fellowship strive for sustainability, energy efficiency, waste reduction

22-CCC-2742016-Hero1-650×450
February 16, 2022
Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2022 Unveiled

Next-generation mRNA vaccines are among the advancements likely to change healthcare this year

22-CCC-2639874-CQD-Hero-650×450
January 25, 2022
Why Lead Safety Has Become Cleveland Clinic’s Top Priority for Community Health

$50 million pledge will help remove sources of lead exposure from Cleveland homes

Nurse conducts safety check on medications in hospital hallway
March 16, 2021
10 Leadership Mindsets for High Reliability Organizations

How to empower caregivers and engage patients in patient safety

650x450summittwitter
September 22, 2020
10 Things Not To Miss at MIS2020

Summit to cap off with Annual Top 10 Medical Innovations

mroz-spine-surgery-219
January 10, 2020
Thomas Mroz, MD, Named Chair of the Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute

The spine surgeon will oversee more than 125 staff physicians in his new role

James Merlino, MD
January 3, 2020
James Merlino, MD, Named Inaugural Chief Clinical Transformation Officer

Merlino rejoins Cleveland Clinic to help execute bold strategic vision

Ad