Good morning! Today, we examine the use of artificial intelligence for health purposes, including patients' use of chatbots, and how practitioners can balance the technology with human interaction.

Also, researchers have found that the emergency department may be an appropriate site for clinicians to encourage shingles vaccination.

Hospital leaders are navigating the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and digitalization with both excitement and caution, as they recognize the need to balance innovation with oversight and empathy. Sutter Health Chief Digital Officer Laura Wilt says it's important to maintain a human touch in health care while leveraging AI to automate administrative tasks and improve efficiency. Tampa General Hospital Chief Digital and Innovation Officer Scott Arnold anticipates that AI agents will significantly differentiate health systems that adopt them, as they relieve staff from repetitive tasks and enhance productivity.

A study led by Dr. Michael Gottlieb of Rush University Medical Center showed a significant gap between awareness and uptake of the shingles vaccine among patients aged 50 and older who visit the emergency department, with 87% of surveyed patients aware of the vaccine, but less than 46% having received it. The study, published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, suggests that the ED could be a potential site for vaccination, as 40% of unvaccinated patients expressed interest in getting the vaccine during their visits.

A meta-analysis in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that common viral infections like influenza, HIV, hepatitis C and shingles may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The review of 155 studies found that flu infections raised the risk of heart attack sixfold in the month after infection. COVID-19 infections were associated with nearly twice the risk of heart disease or stroke, compared with not having an infection.

A real-world study involving about 43,000 adults was presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology and found that tirzepatide was associated with lower risks of death, hospitalization and major cardiovascular events compared with semaglutide in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

A study presented at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference revealed that baricitinib is effective in maintaining hair regrowth among adolescents with alopecia areata. By week 52, 54.1% of those treated with 4 mg of baricitinib and 31% with 2 mg achieved significant hair regrowth, highlighting the drug's potential as a treatment for adolescents.

A survey of 1,319 US voters found that 63% blame insurance companies for medical debt, while 9% blame hospitals. The survey was conducted by Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that purchases and forgives medical debt; the research firm PerryUndem; and the opinion research group NORC at the University of Chicago. The poll, conducted from Aug. 21 to Sept. 2, found about 35% of respondents owed money or had debts due to medical and dental expenses.

Clinicians should ask patients about their use of AI chatbots as part of routine health interviews and mental health screenings, according to a guide developed by Brainstorm: The Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation. Chatbots can offer companionship and support, as evidenced by studies showing their effectiveness in preventing suicide among college students, but they also pose risks such as fostering overdependence and providing misleading health information.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans are developing a health care plan as the government shutdown approaches one month. Expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies are a key issue in the shutdown. Johnson criticized the subsidies and called for reforms instead of extending what he sees as a flawed system.

Dr. Casey Means, the president's nominee for surgeon general, is expected to emphasize prevention and healing in her Senate confirmation hearing. Means, a wellness entrepreneur, has faced criticism for her unconventional medical background, including not completing her surgical residency and having an inactive medical license. She has pledged to resign from her role at Levels Health and stop promoting wellness products and her book if confirmed.