Why Physician-Led AI Matters — And Why Patients Deserve the Care They Want
- Ioannis M. Kalouris, MD
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
An Enable Healthcare Perspective
Artificial intelligence tools are becoming fundamental parts of almost every aspect of the healthcare system. Whether assessing risk or alleviating documentation pressure, healthcare organizations are using AI tools to streamline and improve the effectiveness of clinical care. However, even if AI used in clinical care becomes as sophisticated as the other tools available, the relationship remains the same. Technology is meant to assist the physician, not supplant them.
At Enable Healthcare (EHI), every Aria One AI solution we build, from Lumina AI Scribe, Echo AI Agent, RevQ AI Modeling, and our suite of Care Coordination Intelligence tools, is the result of one commitment:
Put clinicians in the driver’s seat and protect the patient’s voice.
This is not only the right thing to do, but it is also clinically necessary.
Why AI Must Be Physician-Led
The most advanced organizations in the field of medicine are recognizing the need for AI technology to have strong clinical governance:
The American Medical Association (AMA) says that AI should "augment human intelligence, not replace it," and it should only work under the supervision of a doctor. (Why Healthcare AI Can’t Replace Medicine’s Human Component, 2025)
The American College of Physicians (ACP) says that AI must protect the doctor-patient connection and support, not get in the way of, professional judgment. (Daneshvar et al., 2024)
A 2024 study in The Lancet Digital Health found that AI workflows without clinicians had much greater error rates, especially for patients who were vulnerable or had complicated medical histories.
These results show a basic truth: AI reads patterns, but doctors know how to read humans.
AI systems can indeed sift through millions of data points in a matter of seconds. However, they lack an understanding of the nuances of the individual situation. They do not have the ability to fully comprehend the lived experiences of the persons involved or appreciate care-related ethical dilemmas. This is what the clinician brings to the table.
What Doctors Can Do That AI Can't
The Clinical Context
It is up to the physician to assess the model's suggestion to increase risk for a patient who has multiple risk factors, has atypical lab results, has particular psychosocial needs, or is otherwise complex.
Ethical Judgement
Many aspects of the rules allow for flexibility. When a physician is faced with a decision, the first consideration is the anticipated outcomes, potential benefits, the patient’s preferences, and the values over time.
Clear Communication
Patients want unequivocal answers, not predictive models or educated guesses. They want an attentive physician who advocates for them and who is willing to put forth the effort.
Protection Against Bias
Research published in the JAMA, NEJM AI, and Nature Medicine highlights unresolved issues surrounding discrepancies in the performance of algorithms. (Rodman et al., 2023) The presence of a human is what guarantees oversight and protection from inequity.
Every EHI AI workflow, be it for clinical documentation, clinical insights, clinical risk evaluation, or revenue cycle management, positions the physician as the key decision-maker.
Patients Deserve the Care They Want
Assessment of clinical outcomes is no longer sufficient in determining the quality of healthcare provided. Now, it is also necessary to assess the alignment of the healthcare provided with the patient’s needs.
According to a survey by Health Affairs, more than 70% of patients want to be involved in making decisions. (Ruhnke et al., 2020)
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) says that "preference-aligned care" is a key part of good healthcare. (Frampton et al., 2020)
Research from JAMA Internal Medicine reveals that aligning with patient goals leads to better adherence, satisfaction, and long-term outcomes. (Association of Dissatisfaction With Care and Psychiatric Morbidity With Poor Treatment Compliance, 2017)
The best AI model cannot determine what matters most to a patient.
Does the patient value autonomy? Are they against aggressive strategies? Cost-sensitive?
Is it too much to take? Is it quick? Is it comfortable? Is it easy? How long? Less medication?
A physician is the only one who can assist the patient in making such decisions.
A physician is the only person who can make sure that AI supports the patient's voice instead of taking it away.
How EHI's AI, which is led by doctors, helps improve care
More Time for Patients
Most busy medical professionals are engaged in writing notes while speaking with patients. Thanks to Aria One and Lumina AI Scribe, medical doctors are now able to devote their time entirely to listening, analyzing, and conversing with their patients.
More Impactful Insights
Although EHI's Care Coordination Intelligence, RPM/CCM dashboards, and Predictive Insights present valuable data, their value is most in alignment with physicians acting on it with respect to the patient’s objectives.
Making Transparent Decision Making
By utilizing Aria One's augmentation, physicians can unequivocally and satisfactorily justify their diagnostic and therapeutic choices.
More Equity
With the help of channel bias mitigation and clinical review, we ensure our AI systems don’t project to the detriment of the patient, especially in under-resourced regions.
More Stability in finances for practices
RevQ AI Modeling Tools allow physicians and administrators to tackle income instability, payer-related issues, coding inaccuracies, and financial volatility, all while maintaining the use of patient-centered care.
The formula is the same for all EHI products: AI does the hard work.
Physicians lead their care; patients control their care.
The Future of Care: Smart Technology That Works with Human Expertise
The best innovation will be collaboration. For the first time, systems will not work on their own. Clinicians and AI will collaborate to deliver care that is safer, more personalized, and equitable for all patients.
Patients deserve:
A doctor who knows and understands them
Technology that helps, not replaces, human judgment
Care plans that are based on their values, not merely risk ratings
We make AI at EHI that keeps this balance in mind. Our goal is clear:
Empower Physicians. Elevate Patient Experience. Improve Outcomes For All.
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