AI in the Examination Room: Trust, Patients, and the Future of Medicine

Season 03 - Episode 04 In this episode of The Hat Rack, host Dr. Bill McCauley is joined by Dr. Amrit Kripalani, pediatric nephrologist at London Health Sciences Centre and medical education researcher, and Dr. Frank Myslik, Senior Medical Information Officer at London Health Sciences Centre. Together they speak on the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in medicine and discuss what it means for physicians, learners, and patients. The conversation explores how tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and emerging clinical AI platforms are already shaping clinical practice and education. From AI-powered clinical scribes that reduce documentation burden to decision-support tools that help clinicians quickly access evidence, the guests discuss how AI may allow physicians to spend less time at the keyboard and more time connecting with patients. At the same time, the discussion highlights important challenges—including privacy concerns, bias in training data, and the growing number of patients using AI to look up health information. Dr. Kripalani and Dr. Myslik reflect on how medical education and clinical practice must adapt, emphasizing critical appraisal skills, open conversations with patients about AI-generated information, and the evolving role of physicians as trusted interpreters in an AI-enabled healthcare environment. Referenced Resources: HEAL 2.0 - Healthcare Enhanced by Artificial Intelligence & Learning An upcoming conference exploring the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare education and practice. AI Clinical Scribes Technology that captures physician–patient dialogue and generates clinical notes, improving presence and connection. OpenEvidence – AI Clinical Decision Support Tool A clinical AI search and decision-support tool designed to provide evidence-based answers to physician questions. ConnectMyHealth (Ontario) A provincial portal allowing patients to access their own laboratory and diagnostic results online. Find Something to Hang Your Hat On! Listen to The Hat Rack podcast, where physicians gain access to the strategies and insights that CPD experts use to plan, deliver, and measure meaningful continuing education. Guests draw from extensive local, national, and international experience, providing practical takeaways for physicians and educators alike. Hosted by Dr. Bill McCauley, CPD Associate Dean at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. 📧 Questions, Comments, & Suggestions: [email protected]