Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again

In a very insightful book, Topol, builds on the key themes from his previous works - In "Creative Destruction..", he had highlighted the digitizing of all information pertaining to our health and in "Patient Will See..", he had provided a roadmap for new service models that are truly patient-centric. Here, he extends those themes even further and posits that AI, correctly applied, will be transformative to healthcare delivery.That is not necessarily a novel prediction. Numerous authors have highlighted the increasing role of machine-learning/AI in healthcare (and more than a few tech companies have hyped it). Topol acknowledges all that enthusiasm, and using a short set of examples hihglight the value of AI in the first chapter itself. The rest of the book is a systematic expansion of where Topol sees the biggest opportunities in AI are - to the extent he calls it the next industrial revolution.Topol does an excellent job in differentiating clinicians as those that work with and without patterns - these two chapters highlighting the complexities and skill set required to master a cognitive, integrative process is perhaps the most interesting part of the book. These highlight the key assumptions AI developers should (and shouldn't) make while designing their systems. The discussions on how health systems are approaching AI and ML is interesting, but a reader familiar with the academic literature may brush it off as old news; however, Topol manages to convey the key insights and implications that can be extrapolated to other applications. He also provides an interesting take on the role of AI in nutrition and mental health and then becomes very generous with imagination in his discussion on virtual medical assistant.Imaginative, informative, and inspiring - but Topol, almost always ignores the question of "who will pay for it" that has dogged the field of mHealth etc for a while. A reader would have benefited from his expanded views on this issue as well. Overall, an excellent read for anyone remotely interested in healthcare or technology and a wonderful thought-starter for any start-up.

Deep Medicine is a great read for anyone interested in healthcare and how technology can improve the lives of patients, healthcare providers, and our communities. Artificial intelligence has the potential to fundamentally change how we teach and practice medicine, but as so aptly presented by Dr Topol, we should proceed with caution and not let the hype get ahead of clinically-sound research and the appropriate application of this technology.This review is well-written and expertly documented, making it a great introduction for readers new to artificial intelligence, deep learning, digital technology, and genomics. It also serves as a great reference for those familiar with the various topics who want a clearer picture of the larger technology and ethical landscape.The book is timely in its discussion of the “gift of time” that technology, if appropriately and thoughtfully used, can return to the healthcare provider and the patient. This additional time for their visit can result in a more meaningful and deeper relationship between provider and patient as well as an opportunity to enhance the healing aspect of the practice of medicine and significantly decrease physician and other healthcare provider burnout. Deep Medicine is a book well worth the reader’s time and reflection.

The first time I encountered anything by Eric Topol was when I read his last book The Patient will See You Now . I’ve always had an interest in the history of medicine, particularly that of the nineteenth century. It was during that particular time that, despite the quackery of some men and women of medicine, great advances were made. We’re yet again at a juncture in time where we are once again moving forward at a rapid rate. This is a time where the past and the future are melding, where we are finding best practices in a highly technological age. I should say attempting to find the best practices as some people are finding it difficult to move into this new world, miring themselves in the past. Topol is what I’d dub a futuristic author, one who envisions a future in medicine, a visionary not unlike some of his nineteenth century predecessors.If you heard Dr. Topol on NPR, you probably got a glimpse as to what he is attempting to do in this book. He wants to introduce us to the future of medicine, the way AI (artificial intelligence) and technology can help us move into that future. If you listened long enough, you may have heard a frustrated physician express his views. Topol also, once again, recounts the tale of the medical mystery of “Robert,” and how his misdiagnosis “represents everything wrong with medicine today.” Medicine, as it has been practiced and is being practiced, failed not only Robert, but Topol himself. Add the rest of us as far as he’s concerned. He feels this book, as far as futuristic medicine goes, is the “most far-reaching one.”Topol begins by explaining the three-fold components of the deep medicine model. He quickly shifts into what he calls “shallow medicine,” the medicine he assumes most physicians now practice. According to Topol, in part, this results in “extraordinary waste, suboptimal outcomes, and unnecessary harm.” I feel he is not giving his peers credit for what I see as an incredible shift toward the use of AI and high-tech practices in medicine. For example, the physicians and specialists I see are in the trenches, already utilizing deep medicine. Had they not been, I would have long been in the bone yard pushing up daisies. However, I do love Topol’s remarkable compilation of studies, discussions on the positive impact AI tools can have in today’s medicine, the importance of patient advocacy, etc.For those who love to read about science and medicine (I do), this is a fabulous resource. My only quibble with Dr. Topol are a few sweeping opinion-based views. For example, when he talks about shallow medical practice that leads to “plenty of misdiagnoses and unnecessary procedures,” he takes a stab at the new blood pressure guidelines outlined by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology in 2017. Topol goes on to say that this is “leading to the diagnosis of more than 30 million more Americans with hypertension despite the lact of any solid evidence to back up this guideline.” This, according to Topol, “was misdiagnosis at an epidemic scale.”This statement is rather irresponsible at best considering the guidelines were changed in 2017 for good reason. The study, which Topol doesn’t mention, was the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). Check it out if you will. This book is quite readable, fun actually, but make sure you consult with your doctor before tossing out your meds. I for one am seeing physicians practicing deep medicine and am not finding those doctors Topol claims can be overconfident, condescending, arrogant, or simply not caring. I would suggest a bit of due diligence and a bit of extra research as well as a trip to your physician before making any lifestyle changes one may read about in this book. The book has an excellent index, source notes, and numerous charts and graphs for reference.

It is just a brilliant book and it is written in a casual but elegant style. I would give it a solid 6 stars if I could.