Will AI Replace Naturopathic Physicians?

Document patients' histories, including identifying data, chief complaints, illnesses, previous medical or family histories, or psychosocial characteristics.

interpersonal — Patient history requires live elicitation and judgment

Educate patients about health care management.

information retrieval — Healthcare process guidance is largely informational

Advise patients about therapeutic exercise and nutritional medicine regimens.

decision support — Wellness advice needs tailoring and clinical accountability

Conduct physical examinations and physiological function tests for diagnostic purposes.

visual inspection — Patient physical assessment is hands-on clinical work

Administer, dispense, or prescribe natural medicines, such as food or botanical extracts, herbs, dietary supplements, vitamins, nutraceuticals, and amino acids.

decision support — Prescribing medications is licensed high-stakes judgment

Interview patients to document symptoms and health histories.

interpersonal — Collecting from patients requires live clinical interaction

Diagnose health conditions, based on patients' symptoms and health histories, laboratory and diagnostic radiology test results, or other physiological measurements, such as electrocardiograms and electroencephalographs.

visual inspection — Image interpretation assists; radiologist owns diagnosis

Administer treatments or therapies, such as homeopathy, hydrotherapy, Oriental or Ayurvedic medicine, electrotherapy, and diathermy, using physical agents including air, heat, cold, water, sound, or ultraviolet light to catalyze the body to heal itself.

physical manipulation — Alternative procedures are hands-on

Consult with other health professionals to provide optimal patient care, referring patients to traditional health care professionals as necessary.

decision support — Clinical referral judgment needs licensed human accountability

Order diagnostic imaging procedures such as radiographs (x-rays), ultrasounds, mammograms, and bone densitometry tests, or refer patients to other health professionals for these procedures.

decision support — Clinical referral judgment needs licensed human accountability

Maintain professional development through activities such as postgraduate education, continuing education, preceptorships, and residency programs.

information retrieval — AI summarizes medical updates; human retains judgment

Obtain medical records from previous physicians or other health care providers for the purpose of patient evaluation.

information retrieval — History extraction aided; patient interaction human

Conduct periodic public health maintenance activities such as immunizations and screenings for diseases and disease risk factors.

physical manipulation — Immunization requires hands-on injection

Perform venipuncture or skin pricking to collect blood samples.

physical manipulation — Invasive specimen collection needs hands-on clinical skill

Monitor updates from public health agencies to keep abreast of health trends.

information retrieval — AI summarizes medical updates; human retains judgment

Perform mobilizations and high-velocity adjustments to joints or soft tissues, using principles of massage, stretching, or resistance.

physical manipulation — Physical therapy techniques are hands-on body work

Prescribe synthetic drugs under the supervision of medical doctors or within the allowances of regulatory bodies.

decision support — Prescribing medications is licensed high-stakes judgment

Report patterns of patients' health conditions, such as disease status and births, to public health agencies.

text generation — Health records drafted; clinician verifies and signs

Treat minor cuts, abrasions, or contusions.

physical manipulation — Hands-on treatment of acute conditions

Perform minor surgical procedures, such as removing warts, moles, or cysts, sampling tissues for skin cancer or lipomas, and applying or removing sutures.

physical manipulation — Surgery is physical and high-accountability