Autonomous AI could create capacity for thousands more dermatology appointments, real-world study finds
A real-world study conducted in U.K. hospitals demonstrates that autonomous AI can effectively triage skin cancer referrals. By identifying benign lesions, the technology allows dermatologists to focus on high-risk patients, significantly increasing clinical capacity.
Why it matters
This highlights the potential for AI to alleviate staffing shortages and improve efficiency in public healthcare systems.
by European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A real-world study of 8,391 patients found that autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) could free up enough clinical capacity to provide more than 8,500 additional face-to-face dermatology appointments across two U.K. hospitals over 16 months.
The findings, presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology ( EADV ) Congress 2026, suggest that autonomous AI as a medical device (AIaMD) could help address growing pressure on dermatology services. By identifying patients with benign lesions referred through urgent suspected skin cancer pathways, the technology could enable safe management without specialist review, allowing dermatologists to focus their expertise on patients who need it most.
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