The Digital Doctor

The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine’s Computer Age by Robert Wachter:

In The Digital Doctor, Robert Wachter explores how the rapid digitization of healthcare—especially electronic health records (EHRs) and AI tools—is reshaping medicine. He highlights the promise of better data, safer care, and improved efficiency, but also the pitfalls: clunky software, physician burnout, and patient detachment.

Through real stories and case studies, Wachter shows how well-intentioned tech can unintentionally harm patients and frustrate doctors. He calls for a smarter, more human-centered approach to digital health—where technology enhances rather than overwhelms clinical care.

This book is essential for understanding both the hope and the hazards of medicine’s digital transformation.