Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / AI in Healthcare, West Nile Virus Case, and Tanning Risks

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AI in Healthcare, West Nile Virus Case, and Tanning Risks · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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Welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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Chow.
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I'm your host, Dr.
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Chi-Ming Chow, and today we're diving into a topic that's at the forefront of healthcare
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conversations: artificial intelligence, or AI.
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Specifically, we'll be discussing the four most important words in healthcare right now, which
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are "human in the loop."
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Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the medical field, but it's also causing a mix of
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excitement and apprehension.
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A recent survey highlighted that only 8 percent of Americans trust AI greatly when it comes to
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managing their appointments or analyzing their health records.
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Despite this, over 80 percent of doctors in the United States are now using AI in their
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professional practice, a significant increase from just a few years ago.
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The key to bridging the gap between patient trust and technological advancement lies in the
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concept of "human in the loop." This principle ensures that while AI can assist in medical
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care, the final decision-making remains in human hands.
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It's an approach that most clinicians support, seeing AI as a second opinion or a passive
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monitor rather than a replacement for their expertise.
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So, what does "human in the loop" look like in practice?
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AI is being used in various ways, from helping doctors keep more accurate notes during patient
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interactions to acting as a diagnostic tool that provides a second opinion.
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It's also being used to handle administrative tasks like scheduling appointments and sending
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reminders to patients.
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However, the adoption of AI is highly localized, meaning it varies greatly depending
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on the healthcare provider or system.
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This makes it crucial for patients to be proactive in understanding how AI is being used
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in their care.
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Experts suggest that patients should not hesitate to ask their doctors about AI's role
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in their treatment.
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Questions like, "Will AI be used in my care?" and "How is my data being protected?" are
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important to ensure transparency and trust in the physician-patient relationship.
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As AI continues to evolve, both patients and doctors have the opportunity to engage with it
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responsibly.
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For patients, this means being inquisitive and informed about the technology's role in their
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healthcare.
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For doctors, it means integrating AI in a way that enhances, rather than replaces, their
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judgment and care.
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This collaborative approach allows both parties to be "humans-in-the-loop," each contributing
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unique perspectives to improve healthcare outcomes.
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Toronto Public Health has confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in the city for
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2026.
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An adult resident of Toronto has contracted the virus, highlighting the need for continued
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vigilance against this mosquito-transmitted disease.
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West Nile virus is primarily spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes, and while most
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people infected do not show symptoms, it can lead to severe illness, particularly in older
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adults and those with weakened immune systems.
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Symptoms typically appear between two and fourteen days after being bitten by an infected
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mosquito.
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These can range from fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and body aches, to skin rashes,
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swollen lymph glands, and stiff neck.
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Toronto Public Health emphasizes that older individuals and people with compromised immune
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systems are at a higher risk of experiencing severe symptoms from the virus.
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To protect themselves, Toronto residents are encouraged to take several precautions.
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Wearing long, light-colored clothing and applying insect repellent approved by Health
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Canada can reduce the risk of mosquito bites.
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It's also essential to eliminate standing water around homes, as this can serve as breeding
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grounds for mosquitoes.
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Residents should be particularly cautious during dusk and dawn, which are peak
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mosquito-biting times.
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Ensuring that window and door screens are tightly fitted can also help keep mosquitoes
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out of homes.
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Toronto Public Health advises residents to stay informed by visiting their West Nile monitoring
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page.
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This resource provides updates on the virus and additional tips on protection and prevention.
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As we move through the summer months, staying proactive and informed is key to minimizing the
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risk of West Nile virus transmission in the community.
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Let's turn our attention to a pressing issue affecting millions in the United States: the
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health and healthcare experiences of uninsured immigrants.
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According to a report by KFF, as of 2024, there were approximately 50 million immigrants
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residing in the country.
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Of these, 24 million were noncitizen immigrants, including both lawfully present and
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undocumented individuals, while 26 million were naturalized citizens.
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Recent legislative actions by the Trump administration and Congress have significantly
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impacted healthcare access for immigrant families, particularly increasing the number of
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uninsured immigrants.
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One of the pivotal changes came with the 2025 reconciliation law, which introduced new
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eligibility restrictions for many lawfully present immigrants.
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This includes refugees and asylees, affecting their access to Medicaid, the Children's Health
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Insurance Program, the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, and Medicare coverage.
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The Congressional Budget Office estimates that due to these changes, 1.4 million lawfully
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present immigrants could lose their health coverage by 2034.
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The consequences of being uninsured are profound.
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Research consistently shows that having health insurance significantly influences whether and
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when people access the care they need.
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Uninsured individuals are more likely to delay seeking care or forgo it altogether, which can
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lead to worse health outcomes that are more complex and costly to treat over the long term.
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A survey conducted by KFF in collaboration with The New York Times during the fall of 2025
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provides insights into the healthcare experiences of uninsured immigrant adults.
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The findings reveal that uninsured immigrants are more likely to lack a usual source of care
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beyond emergency rooms and are twice as likely as their insured counterparts to delay or skip
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necessary medical care.
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Nearly one in five reported that their health worsened as a result of postponing or skipping
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care.
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The primary reasons cited for these delays include the cost of care and lack of insurance
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coverage.
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Furthermore, the financial strain on uninsured immigrant families is substantial.
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About 69 percent of uninsured immigrants reported difficulties in paying for healthcare,
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housing, or food in the past year.
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In contrast, these financial struggles were reported by only 44 percent of those with
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insurance.
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This disparity underscores the critical role that insurance plays in providing financial
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stability and access to necessary services.
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The impact of parental insurance coverage extends to children as well.
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Uninsured immigrant parents are three times more likely than insured parents to have at
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least one uninsured child.
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Moreover, a significant portion of these parents reported that their children delayed or
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skipped healthcare in the past year.
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This highlights the cascading effects of insurance coverage within families, affecting
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not just individual health outcomes but also those of the next generation.
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Overall, these findings shed light on the challenges faced by uninsured immigrants in
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accessing healthcare and the broader implications for their families.
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It emphasizes the importance of policy measures that can enhance healthcare access and
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insurance coverage for immigrants, ultimately improving health outcomes and reducing
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long-term healthcare costs for society as a whole.
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Ontario is taking a significant step towards addressing the shortage of family doctors with
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the announcement of a new medical school at York University.
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The province has committed $55.8 million to support the establishment of this institution,
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which is set to open in the fall of 2028.
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This funding will be instrumental in hiring faculty, building a medical library, and
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operating both undergraduate and graduate programs.
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The new school of medicine at York University is particularly noteworthy because it will be
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the first in Canada primarily focused on training family doctors.
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This initiative comes at a crucial time, as the Ontario Medical Association reports that over
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2.5 million Ontarians currently lack a family doctor.
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The province is actively working to connect all Ontarians with a primary care provider by 2029,
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and the establishment of this new medical school is a pivotal part of that plan.
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When it opens, the program will initially offer 80 undergraduate spots and 102 postgraduate
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positions, with plans to expand to 240 undergraduate and 293 postgraduate spots.
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The focus on training family doctors is aligned with Ontario's strategy to boost health teams
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that include a variety of professionals such as nurses, physiotherapists, and social workers,
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alongside doctors.
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This development is a response to the growing demand for primary care providers across the
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province.
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Ontario's Health Care Connect program aims to ensure that every resident has access to a
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primary care provider by 2029.
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However, the province's auditor general has noted that the program is not currently meeting
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demand.
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This new medical school at York University is expected to play a crucial role in closing the
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gap and ensuring that more Ontarians have access to essential healthcare services.
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The investment in York University's medical school underscores the province's commitment to
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strengthening its healthcare system by addressing the shortage of family doctors.
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By focusing on the training of family physicians, Ontario is taking proactive steps
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to meet the healthcare needs of its growing population and improve overall access to
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primary care.
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As tanning becomes trendy once again, it's crucial for teens and their parents to
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understand the implications on skin health.
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Nichole Sims, who began using tanning beds at the age of fifteen, was diagnosed with melanoma
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eight years later.
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This potentially life-threatening skin cancer has not deterred the growing trend among young
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people, fueled by social media portrayals of tanning as a beauty must-have and mood
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enhancer.
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Experts are raising concerns about this resurgence in tanning, especially among young
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adults who are influenced by social media.
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Videos showing off tan lines and sharing tanning secrets are garnering millions of
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views, with some commenters dismissing the risks and joking about preferring to be tan.
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Meanwhile, the American Cancer Society warns that over 100,000 new melanoma cases are
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expected in the United States in 2026, with around 8,500 fatalities.
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Dr.
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Pedram Gerami from Northwestern University highlights the heightened risk associated with
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tanning bed use.
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His research shows that users have nearly three times the risk of developing melanoma compared
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to non-users.
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Tanning beds can emit UV light at levels more than ten times that of the sun, significantly
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increasing the mutation rate of melanocytes, the skin cells that can develop into melanoma.
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Despite these risks, misconceptions about tanning persist, particularly among young
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adults.
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A survey by the American Academy of Dermatology found that more than one-fifth of young adults
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prioritize getting a tan over skin protection, with many believing myths like a 'base tan' can
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prevent sunburn.
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Social media content often ridicules expert warnings, even falsely claiming that sunscreen
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can cause cancer.
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The World Health Organization has classified tanning beds as a carcinogen, similar to
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tobacco and asbestos.
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However, recent regulatory decisions, such as the U.S.
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Food and Drug Administration withdrawing a rule to bar minors from using tanning beds, could
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send mixed messages to the public.
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This decision concerns many experts who fear it may undermine efforts to communicate the
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dangers of tanning.
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Communicating these risks effectively to teenagers can be challenging.
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Sherry Pagoto, a psychologist at the University of Connecticut, suggests focusing on aspects
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that resonate with teens, like the impact of excessive sun exposure on physical appearance,
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such as leathery or wrinkly skin.
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Parents can also model safe behavior by making sunscreen readily available and offering
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alternatives like self-tanners.
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Ultimately, while the allure of a tan is understandable, it's essential to weigh the
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immediate cosmetic benefits against the long-term health risks.
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Educating young people about the potential consequences of tanning can help them make
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informed choices about their skin health.
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In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers
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have highlighted a significant concern over the use of multiple medications among older adults.
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The study found that older individuals taking five or more prescription drugs, a condition
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known as "polypharmacy," face a notably higher risk of death compared to those on fewer
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medications.
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This underscores the growing issue of polypharmacy and its long-term effects on aging
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populations.
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The study, led by Dr.
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Alexander Chaitoff from the University of Michigan School of Medicine, analyzed national
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survey data from 7,828 adults aged 65 and older, collected between 1999 and 2016.
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The researchers verified medication use by directly inspecting participants' pill bottles
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over a 30-day period and then followed them for an average of 8.5 years.
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They found that more than half of these participants fell into at least one high-risk
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medication category, with the largest group consisting of those taking five or more
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prescription drugs.
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Alarmingly, the study revealed that over 40 percent of the older adults studied were
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engaged in polypharmacy, taking five or more prescription medications.
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Furthermore, 37.6 percent of these individuals were using medications considered risky for
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older adults, such as those increasing the risk of confusion or falls.
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Additionally, 11.4 percent were taking combinations of medications known to cause
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major drug-to-drug interactions.
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The research found that taking five or more prescriptions was associated with a 38 percent
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increase in overall mortality risk, even after accounting for the participants' overall health
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and underlying conditions.
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Each additional prescription medication added was linked to a 7 percent increase in the risk
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of death.
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This highlights the importance of careful medication management among older adults.
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Medical experts, including those from the Cleveland Clinic, emphasize that taking
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multiple medications can increase the likelihood of side effects, adverse drug
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reactions, and accidental overdoses.
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This is particularly concerning as the liver and kidneys age and process drugs less
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efficiently.
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These findings suggest that doctors should be vigilant in identifying patients who might
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benefit from "deprescribing"—the process of safely stopping or reducing unnecessary
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medications.
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While the study provides valuable insights, it's important to note its limitations.
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It focused solely on community-dwelling older adults, excluding those in nursing homes or
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assisted care facilities.
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Moreover, the study captured medication use during a single 30-day snapshot, which means it
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shows an association rather than direct proof of causation between prescriptions and higher
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death risks.
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Experts advise that individuals on multiple medications should regularly review their
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entire medication regimen with their healthcare providers.
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This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.
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Regular reviews can help ensure that each medication is necessary, the dosage is
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appropriate, and any potential interactions are managed effectively.
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As we conclude today's episode, it's clear that medication management is crucial for older
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adults.
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By understanding the risks associated with polypharmacy and taking proactive steps to
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evaluate medication needs, we can improve health outcomes for our aging population.
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Thank you for joining me on Morning Medical with Dr.
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Chow.
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Stay informed, stay healthy, and we'll see you next time.