Tucson Standard

Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences' Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center are developing an artificial intelligence bot aimed at transforming medical education. The Artificial Intelligence Medical History Evaluation Instrument, or AIMHEI, is designed to improve medical communications by assessing student interactions with patients.

"AIMHEI represents a step big forward in our medical education, utilizing the power of artificial intelligence to coach and evaluate medical students in a way that was previously unimaginable," said Dr. Allan Hamilton, executive director of ASTEC and a Regents Professor of Surgery at the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson. He added that AIMHEI aims to streamline and personalize coaching for each student while saving time for both faculty and students.

The AI tool evaluates students' medical interviews by analyzing data from their exchanges with patients. It provides feedback on interpersonal skills and 16 medical content skills based on guidelines from organizations like the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the American College of Surgeons, and the World Health Organization.

Students receive insights into their "bedside manner" as well as how they handle "housekeeping chores" during interviews. "Our goal is to provide the best possible opportunities for acquiring clinical expertise for our students without necessarily having to rely only on direct interface with real humans or patients," Hamilton stated.

AIMHEI's pilot evaluations use anonymous data compliant with HIPAA and FERPA regulations. The bot is also expected to generate customized patient scenarios for training purposes when access to real or standardized patients is limited.

The development team includes Kyle McLemore and Ricardo Martinez from AIDSET, along with Winslow Burleson from UArizona's School of Information. Undergraduate and graduate students have contributed significantly to testing AIMHEI.

Currently undergoing final alpha testing, AIMHEI may be available this fall for students at UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Hamilton emphasized AI's potential impact: "I think AI is going to bring about the biggest change in medical education that we've seen in the last 100 years."