Health
Artificial intelligence not always helpful for reducing doctor burnout, studies suggest
The use of generative AI may not be helpful in reducing burnout in health care, new research suggests.
Previous research indicated that increased time spent using electronic health record (EHR) systems and handling administrative responsibilities has been a burden on doctors.
So some people had heralded artificial intelligence as a potential solution — yet recent investigations by U.S. health systems found that large language models (LLMs) did not simplify clinicians’ day-to-day responsibilities.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
For instance, a 2023 observational study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, examined the impact of using AI for electronic patient messaging.
Researchers prompted a large language model to respond to simulated questions from cancer patients — then compared its output to responses from six board-certified radiation oncologists.
Medical professionals then edited the AI-generated responses into “clinically acceptable” answers to send to patients.
New studies suggest that generative AI might not help burnout among physicians, as had been previously thought. (iStock)
The study, published in The Lancet Digital Health, found that the LLM drafts posed “a risk of severe harm in 11 of 156 survey responses, and death in one survey response.”
“The majority of harmful responses were due to incorrectly determining or conveying the acuity of the scenario and recommended action,” the researchers wrote.
FIRST-EVER AUGMENTED REALITY ABDOMINAL SURGERY PERFORMED IN CHILE: ‘A REVOLUTION’
The researchers concluded that LLM-assisted results (those edited by physicians) displayed a “best-of-both-worlds scenario” — reducing physician workload while ensuring that patients get accurate information.
“These early findings … indicate the need to thoroughly evaluate LLMs in their intended clinical contexts, reflecting the precise task and level of human oversight,” the study concluded.
Researchers concluded that LLM-assisted results displayed a “best-of-both-worlds scenario,” reducing physician workload while ensuring consistency of responses and improving the education of patients. (iStock)
Medical billing codes
Another study from New York’s Mount Sinai Health System evaluated four different types of large language models for performance and error patterns when querying medical billing codes.
GOOGLE BARD TRANSITIONS TO GEMINI: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE AI UPGRADE
The research, published in the journal NEJM AI, found that all tested LLMs performed poorly on medical code querying, “often generating codes conveying imprecise or fabricated information.”
The study concluded, “LLMs are not appropriate for use on medical coding tasks without additional research.” The study was funded by the AGA Research Foundation and National Institutes of Health (NIH).
One study found that all tested LLMs performed poorly on medical code querying — and that the issue needs further research. (iStock)
Researchers noted that although these models can “approximate the meaning of many codes,” they also “display an unacceptable lack of precision and a high propensity for falsifying codes.”
“This has significant implications for billing, clinical decision-making, quality improvement, research and health policy,” the researchers wrote.
Patient messages and physicians’ time
A third JAMA Network-published study, from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, evaluated AI-drafted replies to patient messages and physicians’ time spent editing them.
CHATGPT FOUND BY STUDY TO SPREAD INACCURACIES WHEN ANSWERING MEDICATION QUESTIONS
The assumption was that generative AI drafts would lessen a physician’s time spent doing these tasks — yet the results showed otherwise.
“Generative AI-drafted replies were associated with significantly increased read time, no change in reply time, significantly increased reply length and [only] some perceived benefits,” the study found.
Researchers suggested that “rigorous empirical tests” are needed to further assess AI’s performance and patients’ experiences.
In the UC San Diego study, generative AI was found to cause “increased read time, no change in reply time [and] significantly increased reply length” in patient messages. (iStock)
Doctor’s thoughts on AI
David Atashroo, M.D., chief medical officer of Qventus, an AI-powered surgical management solution in Mountain View, California, reacted to the research findings in an interview with Fox News Digital. (He was not involved in the research.)
“We see an immense potential for AI to take on lower-risk, yet highly automatable tasks that traditionally fall on the essential yet often overlooked ‘glue roles’ in health care — such as schedulers, medical assistants, case managers and care navigators,” he said.
“It’s crucial to set realistic expectations about [AI’s] performance.’
“These professionals are crucial in holding together processes that are directly tied to clinical outcomes, yet spend a substantial portion of their time on administrative tasks like parsing faxes, summarizing notes and securing necessary documentation.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
In automating these tasks, Atashroo suggested that generative AI could help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of clinical care.
“When considering the deployment of generative AI, it’s crucial to set realistic expectations about its performance,” he said.
“The standard cannot always be perfection, as even the humans currently performing these tasks are not infallible.”
“The standard cannot always be perfection, as even the humans currently performing these tasks are not infallible,” an AI expert said. (iStock)
In some scenarios, he suggested, AI could help serve as a “safety net” to catch any oversights of team members.
Tasks may sometimes go unaddressed “simply because there isn’t enough time to tackle them,” Atashroo noted.
“Generative AI can help manage cases more consistently than our current capacity allows.”
“When considering the deployment of generative AI, it’s crucial to set realistic expectations about its performance.”
Safety and efficacy are “paramount” in AI applications, the doctor also noted.
“This means not only developing models with rigorous quality checks, but also incorporating regular assessments by human experts to validate their performance,” he said.
“This dual-layer verification ensures that our AI solutions are both responsible and reliable before they are scaled.”
Atashroo also noted that “transparency in the development and implementation of AI technologies is essential in building trust among hospital partners and patients.”
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As snow blanketed parts of the U.S. this week, heart health experts have shared warnings of the physical strain shoveling can take — particularly for older adults.
A 2025 Mayo Clinic review found that just 10 minutes of heavy snow shoveling can push the heart to about 97% of its maximum rate. Exposure to cold air was also found to increase blood pressure and reduce coronary blood flow.
While there isn’t an official age that’s “too old” to shovel, some cardiologists recommend that individuals over 45 should exercise more caution to lower their chances of a cardiac event.
When to take caution
“While there’s no strict age cutoff, generally above the age of mid 40s and above, we tend to be a little more cautious — particularly in people who are less active [without] regular exercise,” Dr. Navjot Kaur Sobti, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at Northwell’s Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York, told Fox News Digital.
Heart health experts have shared warnings of the physical strain shoveling can take — particularly for older adults. (iStock)
“Certainly in people who are above the age of 65 — and who have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity or sedentary lifestyle — we recommend being very, very cautious about shoveling snow,” she advised.
Dr. John Osborne, M.D., a practicing Texas cardiologist and volunteer for the American Heart Association, shared similar guidance for people older than 45, especially males over 65.
SIMPLE NIGHTLY HABIT LINKED TO HEALTHIER BLOOD PRESSURE, STUDY SUGGESTS
“Unless you are in good cardiovascular shape and conditioned, it may be a good idea to ask someone for help,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
The impact of snow removal is especially concerning for those with existing cardiovascular risks and a history of heart attack or stroke, according to the cardiologist. “People with these characteristics and those who have had bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty simply should not be shoveling snow in any conditions,” he said.
Just 10 minutes of heavy snow shoveling can push the heart to about 97% of its maximum rate, a 2025 Mayo Clinic review found. (iStock)
Osbourne said he often sees cardiac episodes in people who are typically sedentary and sit at a computer most of the day with little or no exercise. “Then once or twice a year, they go out and try to shovel the driveway after a heavy snowfall, and that unexpected exertion can unfortunately lead to tragedy.”
Hidden strain
The stress that is placed on one’s heart while shoveling snow is similar to what occurs during a cardiac stress test, Sobti pointed out, and may even exceed it.
Cold temperatures can cause blood vessels to constrict and blood pressure to spike — which, coupled with existing hypertension and the exertion of lifting snow, can significantly tax the heart, she warned.
“It’s almost like an at-risk person is putting themselves through an unsupervised maximal exertion stress test without a cardiologist actively monitoring them,” Sobti told Fox News Digital.
The stress that is placed on one’s heart while shoveling snow is similar to what occurs during a cardiac stress test. (iStock)
In addition to the exertion of shoveling, frigid temperatures can also strain the heart. Recent research has shown that cold exposure accounts for nearly twice as many cardiovascular deaths as heat exposure, including heat exhaustion.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
That study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine last month, also found that those over age 65 had higher rates of temperature-related deaths.
“So the risk is very, very high,” Sobti cautioned. “It’s really that sudden rise in blood pressure coupled with the physical stress of snow shoveling itself.”
Safer shoveling tips
The cardiologist said it’s ideal to have someone else help with snow removal — but if you do choose to use a shovel, she recommends pacing yourself and using a “pushing or sweeping” motion instead of heavy lifting.
Recent research has shown that cold exposure accounts for nearly twice as many cardiovascular deaths as heat exposure. (iStock)
To protect against the cold, Sobti also recommends covering your mouth, nose and extremities, wearing a hat and gloves, and using extra caution in windy conditions.
Using an automated snow blower can still raise the heart rate — up to 120 beats per minute, compared to 170 while shoveling, the American Heart Association states on its website.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
It is also important to be aware of any symptoms of a potential cardiac issue while shoveling, Sobti emphasized.
If a person starts to experience warning signs such as chest pain, shortness of breath, a racing heart or palpitations, those should not be ignored.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Even if the symptoms resolve after a few minutes, a person “could still be experiencing symptoms of a heart attack” and should call 911 for evaluation, Sobti said.
“It’s better really to be safe than sorry.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
More than three-quarters of the global population is falling short on omega-3 intake, a nutrient gap that may increase the risk of heart disease, cognitive decline, inflammation and vision problems.
That’s according to an analysis published in Nutrition Research Reviews, in which researchers from the University of East Anglia, the University of Southampton and Holland & Barrett analyzed omega-3 intake patterns across multiple countries and age groups.
The review found that 76% of people worldwide are not meeting the recommended levels of two omega-3 fats that are essential for heart health: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
TREATING GUM DISEASE COULD REDUCE RISK OF HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES, STUDY SUGGESTS
The analysis considered recommendations from global health authorities and assessed how closely populations follow them.
Most adults should aim for at least 250 milligrams of EPA and DHA per day, though actual intake is far lower in many regions, according to the researchers.
A new study found that 76% of people fall short of their recommended omega-3 intake. (iStock)
To explore the health implications of low omega-3 intake, Fox News Digital spoke with Michelle Routhenstein, a New York–based preventive cardiology dietitian at Entirely Nourished.
HIGH-POTASSIUM FOODS COULD ‘SIGNIFICANTLY’ LOWER RISK OF HEART FAILURE, STUDY FINDS
Low omega-3 levels can have a noticeable impact on heart health, cognitive function and inflammation throughout the body, the expert confirmed.
Low intake can also increase the risk of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death, she added. It’s also associated with higher triglycerides, irregular heart rhythms and plaque in the arteries.
Most adults should aim for at least 250 milligrams of EPA and DHA per day, researchers say. (iStock)
Inadequate omega-3 levels have also been linked to changes in brain function, including faster cognitive decline, a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and increased rates of depression.
Routhenstein noted that low levels may also worsen inflammation in autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis, and can negatively affect eye health, since omega-3s play a key structural role in the retina.
SITTING ALL DAY? NEW STUDY SAYS CERTAIN FOODS MAY PROTECT YOUR HEART FROM DAMAGE
To improve omega-3 levels, the expert said it’s important to understand how much is needed and where to get it.
“The richest dietary sources of EPA and DHA are oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, trout and anchovies,” Routhenstein told Fox News Digital.
Oily fish, such as salmon, are among the richest natural sources of omega-3s. (iStock)
Many people benefit from eating oily fish more frequently, often three to four times per week, Routhenstein noted. For individuals who do not eat fish regularly, supplements can help raise EPA and DHA to healthier levels.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
For those taking omega-3 supplements, dosing should be based on lab results, medications, omega-3 levels and overall medical history, according to Routhenstein. Moderate, quality-controlled supplements are generally considered safe for most people.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
There is also some evidence supporting prescription-strength omega-3 products.
“High-dose EPA, such as 4 grams per day of icosapent ethyl, has been shown to reduce major cardiovascular events in certain high-risk populations, while similar doses of mixed EPA/DHA have not consistently shown the same benefit,” Routhenstein said.
Omega-3 dosing should be individualized based on lab data, medication use, current levels and overall medical history. (iStock)
Testing omega-3 levels can also help determine whether intake is adequate. The omega-3 index, a blood test that measures EPA and DHA in red blood cells, is considered one of the most reliable ways to assess status.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Levels around 8% are associated with lower cardiovascular risk, while levels below approximately 4% are considered low,” Routhenstein said.
Understanding baseline levels can help guide more personalized decisions about diet and supplementation.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Those who are unsure about their omega-3 status or whether supplementation is appropriate should speak with a healthcare provider to determine the best approach.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As winter weather moves in, cozy essentials like scarves, plush throws and heated bedding become everyday comforts.
But dermatologists caution that these cold-weather favorites can secretly undermine skin health — trapping sweat and bacteria, causing irritation and exposing the skin to excess heat.
Choosing the right materials for wellness — and using them safely — can make a big difference.
VIRAL ALL-WHITE WELLNESS PUSH COULD BOOST MENTAL HEALTH — HERE ARE 4 ESSENTIALS TO CONSIDER
Here are five winter must-haves and gift ideas, with expert tips on how to keep skin healthy and happy while staying warm this season.
Soft scarf, $19.99, Amazon.com
Scarves made of natural fiber, like this one that is 100% cotton, may help if you’re prone to irritation. (Amazon)
A soft scarf is a staple for cold days and an easy way to elevate a winter outfit.
Yet, if breakouts are appearing along the neck, jawline or chest, that favorite accessory may be part of the problem.
BACKYARD BIRDING IS BOOMING — HERE ARE MUST-HAVE GIFTS TOPPING WISH LISTS THIS SEASON
“You should wash your scarf as often as your clothes to prevent breakouts,” Annabelle Taurua, a beauty expert at Fresha, a beauty and wellness booking platform headquartered in London, told Fox News Digital.
Cotton is a better choice than polyester, she also noted, as it’s more breathable and allows sweat to evaporate.
Fluffy blankets, $28.97, Potterybarn.com
Fluffy blankets make for perfect cozy days at home, but their soft fibers can trap sweat, oils and dead skin — which can clog pores and encourage bacteria growth. (Pottery Barn)
Fluffy blankets make for perfect cozy days at home, but their soft fibers can trap sweat, oils and dead skin, which can clog pores and encourage bacteria growth.
Rough textures or infrequent washing can also irritate sensitive skin and worsen breakouts.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“Regularly wash your blankets, especially those made from synthetic or fluffy materials, to remove built-up oils and dirt,” Taurua advised.
She recommended breathable materials like cotton or linen, as well as hypoallergenic options for anyone prone to irritation.
Good set of sheets, $49.99, Amazon.com
Much like scarves, natural fibers are the way to go for your linens to avoid irritation. (iStock)
Cold weather makes lingering in bed especially tempting, but lying on unwashed bedding can worsen acne.
Pillowcases and sheets quickly collect oil, bacteria and dead skin cells, which transfer directly onto the face.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Washing bedding frequently is important,” Taurua said. “You should aim to change and wash your pillowcases every two to three days and your sheets at least once a week.”
Heated blanket, $33.99, Walmart.com
Heated blankets are a great way to stay warm during the winter. (Walmart)
When using a heated blanket, start with the lowest heat setting and limit use, said Taurua.
“Once you’re warm, switch to a regular blanket,” she advised.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
She also said it’s best to avoid direct contact for long periods to reduce irritation.
Hot water bottle, $12.99, Amazon.com
A traditional winter staple, hot water bottles offer quick comfort — but they come with risks similar to heated blankets, including burns, scalding and long-term heat-related skin damage.
Hot water bottles should never be filled with boiling water, experts advise. (Amazon)
“Never fill a hot water bottle with boiling water,” Taurua said.
“Only use hot, not boiling, water, and fill it to a maximum of two-thirds.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
She recommended wrapping the bottle in a towel or cover to avoid direct skin contact and limiting use to around 20 minutes.
Pepperdine hosts North Dakota State following Koenen’s 22-point game
Why Ohio State is built to ‘wake up and move on’ from a loss before the College Football Playoff
Former Oklahoma Quarterback Bounces Back in Lopsided Win for Division Leader
Oregon has been planning for this playoff moment since last year and it’s paying off
Inside the legislative effort to expel cellphones from Pa.’s K-12 schools
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Video: Rob Reiner and His Wife Are Found Dead in Their Los Angeles Home
Biden officials go silent when asked about Afghan refugee program after guardsmen shooting
South Korea indicts ex-leader Yoon over power plot provoking North
BBC Verify: Videos show impact of mass drone attacks launched by Ukraine and Russia
Bill and Hillary Clinton’s Stance on Epstein Testimony Nov. 3
-
Alaska1 week agoHowling Mat-Su winds leave thousands without power
-
Texas1 week agoTexas Tech football vs BYU live updates, start time, TV channel for Big 12 title
-
Washington6 days agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa1 week agoMatt Campbell reportedly bringing longtime Iowa State staffer to Penn State as 1st hire
-
Miami, FL1 week agoUrban Meyer, Brady Quinn get in heated exchange during Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami CFP discussion
-
Iowa2 days agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Cleveland, OH1 week agoMan shot, killed at downtown Cleveland nightclub: EMS
-
World1 week ago
Chiefs’ offensive line woes deepen as Wanya Morris exits with knee injury against Texans
