KevinMD January 2, 2026
For decades, many have documented the decline of the physical exam. As imaging grew more powerful, labs more precise, and algorithms more accurate, the stethoscope and reflex hammer faded in importance. Some even speculated that technology would eventually make hands-on diagnostic skills obsolete.
But the next era of medicine may flip that prediction on its head.
Picture a future where artificial intelligence participates in nearly all patient management decisions. This seems inevitable given AI’s command of medical science; few humans can keep all the latest information fresh in their minds. And if we begin using AI extensively to support clinical practice, the most important role of the physician may become something surprisingly old-fashioned: performing an accurate physical exam. Physicians who...
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