As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with increasing patient demand and workforce shortages, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a critical tool for supporting clinical decision-making. Dr Rahul Goyal, a General Practitioner and Clinical Executive at Elsevier, has been at the forefront of integrating AI into primary care practice. In this conversation, he shares insights on how AI is transforming the day-to-day realities of general practice, the practical challenges of implementation, and what the future holds for AI-augmented healthcare.
Q: The pressures on general practice seem to be mounting. How would you characterise the current state of primary care?
Dr Goyal: The statistics speak for themselves – on average GP’s are now responsible for over 2,200 patients each, which is a significant increase from just a decade ago. But it’s not just about numbers. The complexity of cases we’re now seeing has grown dramatically. Patients are living longer with multiple chronic conditions, and they rightfully want time with their doctor to discuss their care. And at the same time we also have increased administrative burdens that take us away from direct patient care. It’s created what I’d call a perfect storm in general practice.
Q: You’ve emerged as a leader in leveraging AI to address these challenges. What initially drew you to explore these technologies?
Dr Goyal: My interest in technology supporting clinical practice predates the current AI wave. I’ve been fascinated by how other industries have transformed through technology adoption. Meanwhile, healthcare has remained remarkably resistant to change. There are genuine barriers in healthcare, such as regulatory requirements, patient safety concerns, and the complexity of clinical decision-making, that have understandably slowed adoption compared to other sectors.
However, what excites me most today is how recent advancements in technology, especially in AI, data analytics, and interoperability, are finally making it possible to overcome many of these barriers in healthcare. We’re seeing smarter, safer, and more adaptable systems that can integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows, support decision-making, and even personalise care for patients. The collaboration between clinicians, technologists, and regulators is stronger than ever, ensuring that innovation is both responsible and impactful. It’s an incredibly promising time, as technology is no longer just a distant hope for healthcare, but an active and growing partner in delivering better outcomes for patients and providers alike.
Q: Can you share some examples on when and how you use AI in your day-to-day clinical practice?
Dr Goyal: Several key areas stand out. First, AI really excels at synthesising complex medical information into actionable insights. Pre-AI, when dealing with patients who had multiple conditions or rare syndromes, I’d spend enormous amounts of time going through journals and various databases. Now I can quickly sense-check my clinical thinking and access comprehensive information at my fingertips. What used to take days or even weeks of research can now be done in hours. Instead of being heads-down in systems, I’m more present with patients, focusing on that crucial one-to-one time that remains fundamental to delivering best practice. AI for me can feel like having another colleague in the room, supporting faster decision-making while helping to ensure I haven’t missed anything important.
Second, the technology streamlines operational efficiency. Things like discharge summaries, documentation, and administrative workflows that don’t require highly trained clinical expertise. This frees us up to spend more time with patients doing what we’re actually trained for. From my experience using AI, it doesn’t replace my clinical judgement, rather it enhances it. By removing the administrative burden it helps us access comprehensive information to make better decisions.
And lastly, education and clinical supervision are being transformed. When senior clinicians are stretched and formal teaching time is limited, AI can prove a valuable teaching aid. It doesn’t replace human mentorship but ensures students and resident doctors have immediate access to relevant clinical guidance when a supervisor isn’t currently available. This helps to maintain educational quality even when staffing pressures mean less one-to-one teaching time, allowing trainees to continue learning safely.
Q: There’s often concern about AI introducing bias or replacing human judgment. How do you address these concerns?
Dr Goyal: These are absolutely valid concerns that we must take seriously. The key is understanding that it’s not AI that will take over healthcare, it’s that the people who use AI effectively will be the ones to advance patient care. We need to be co-owners in the development of these technologies, working alongside programmers and engineers to ensure AI serves clinicians and patients effectively.
The AI tools I use are clinically validated and built on evidence-based, peer-reviewed materials. It’s always important for any clinician using AI in their practice to verify their answers and I would always recommend using AI tools that provide clear citations to their sources. Having tools that provide references, is what I like to call a “glass box” rather than a “black box”. I can peer under the hood and understand the reasoning, which allows me to apply my clinical judgment appropriately.
In fact, I’ve found AI can actually help reduce some of my own cognitive biases by presenting alternatives I hadn’t considered. For instance, when dealing with complex paediatric cases or patients with multiple disorders, AI helps me consider factors that might not be immediately in my line of sight. It’s made me a more thorough clinician, not a less thoughtful one.
The critical distinction is that AI speeds up what we already do. We should focus on using AI to enable the work we already do exceptionally well, while ensuring we remain the curators of that journey. We have no room for mistakes in healthcare, so technology must enhance our capabilities while keeping human judgment firmly at the centre of patient care.
Q: What should other GPs know about implementing AI in their practice?
Dr Goyal: The most important thing is to recognise that people are already using AI in their normal personal lives – banking apps, shopping, navigation. We can’t afford to be laggards in healthcare anymore when patients expect that same level of technological sophistication. The gap between what we use at home and what we use at work has become almost archaic.
Start by identifying your biggest workflow pain points. Where are you spending your time on tasks that don’t require your clinical expertise? Focus on AI solutions that address operational efficiency first, for example things that take away the day-to-day grind so you can spend more time with patients.
I would also say, don’t try to solve problems that don’t exist. We need to be co-creators, not passive recipients of technology solutions. The best AI implementations come from understanding real clinical challenges, use cases and working with developers to address them.
Finally, embrace the democratising potential of AI. These tools should share the load and burden across all healthcare workers, giving everyone access to information to enable the best patient care.
Q: Looking ahead, where do you see AI’s role in primary care evolving?
Dr Goyal: I think we’re still in the early stages. As these tools become more sophisticated and better integrated into electronic health records, they’ll become even more seamless. I envision AI helping with predictive analytics, for example identifying patients at risk before they become acutely ill, supporting preventive care strategies.
But the fundamental goal remains the same: giving us more time and better information to focus on what we do best, listening to patients, building relationships, and making informed decisions about their care.
Q: What would you say to GPs who are hesitant about embracing AI?
Dr Goyal: I understand the hesitation – change is never easy, especially in healthcare where patient safety must always come first. But I’d encourage them to stay curious and open-minded. This technology isn’t going away, and when implemented thoughtfully, it can genuinely improve both job satisfaction and patient outcomes.
Start by exploring what’s available, talking to colleagues who are using these tools, and perhaps piloting something small in your practice. The goal isn’t to become complacent and have AI replace your expertise, it’s to become a better doctor.
The future of general practice will be human-centred, but AI-augmented. And that’s something I’m genuinely excited about.