Medical software, when coupled with the expertise and knowledge of a skilled physician, has unquestionably saved many lives. These programs have helped to improve the success rates of risky surgical procedures, made diagnoses faster and more specific, and enabled doctors to monitor and care for patients from afar. However, it’s important to note that, despite some media buzz to the contrary, medical software will never be able to take the place of an actual doctor! One excellent illustrative example of how these types of programs must be combined with expert human knowledge relates to CAD, or computer-assisted detection, software.

Detection software is usually used to help doctors review and evaluate their findings from X-rays, MRIs, and other types of internal imaging that are used to help diagnosis serious medical problems. For instance, many doctors use computer-assisted detection software to read mammograms, in order to determine whether or not the patient has any problematic or potentially cancerous areas that need further medical evaluation. This type of software scans the mammogram and identifies areas of concern. In theory, this program will work in conjunction with an attentive doctor, essentially serving as a second pair of eyes to make sure that he or she hasn’t overlooked anything the first time. However, according to one study conducted by the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, doctors frequently find spots and lesions that the computer overlooks!

What does this mean for health care professionals? It means that CAD software can be a helpful supplementary tool, but it should be treated as just that: A tool, not the ultimate word in a patient’s prognosis. Doctors must stay vigilant and rely on their medical training and years of experience to determine whether or not a patient has problem areas on his or her scan or X-ray. While medical software can be a great help to doctors everywhere, it should never be relied upon as a substitute for human expertise or a “doctor substitute.”