A.I. Can Answer Questions -- But It Can't Care For Patients

4/29/2026

By: Dana Pillans, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC

AI has changed the way people obtain information and make decisions in their daily lives, including their health. It is also being utilized by hospitals and providers to facilitate a better patient experience and improve patient care. For example, it is now being used to help expedite provider charting in the electronic medical record (EMR), which has the potential to give time back to providers, which gives them more time to talk with patients.

At the same time, patients have 24/7 access to information on the Internet and through open-source generative AI. They can ask medical questions and have an answer in seconds. The question is—how accurate are those answers?

Lately, more people are turning to tools like chatbots or search engines to figure out their symptoms. That’s understandable. It’s quick, it’s easy, and sometimes it even points you in the right direction. But it has limits. Studies show these tools can be helpful, but their accuracy varies widely and often falls short of expert-level care. They tend to do better with simple, straightforward problems and struggle when symptoms overlap or become more complex.

The risk isn’t just getting the wrong answer. It’s getting a partially right answer and stopping there. AI can give you possibilities, but it cannot examine you, track your history over time or recognize subtle changes that matter. It doesn’t know your baseline, your risk factors or what has already been ruled out.

There are also concerns about how information is delivered. According to the Duke University School of Medicine, there have been cases where a chatbot appropriately warned a user that a medical procedure should only be performed by medical professionals yet still went on to provide step-by-step instructions.

Real healthcare is built on patterns over time - repeat labs, physical exams, conversations and adjustments. It is built on provider-patient relationships, not a one-time question with a one-time answer.

Using AI or the internet as a starting point is reasonable. Relying on it as a final decision is where people get into trouble. Resources like the Mayo Clinic emphasize that while AI can be a helpful tool, the safest decisions are made in partnership with a healthcare provider.

AI can give you information. It cannot take responsibility for your health - that still belongs in the exam room.

Schedule your visit today with Dana Pillans, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC at Streetman Primary Clinic by calling 903-602-7324 or schedule online at https://www.navarro-docs.com/doctors-providers/pillans-dana-msn-aprn-agacnpbc-8720.

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