In my 30 years as a physician, I’ve written thousands of antibiotic prescriptions. Too many of them weren’t necessary. This isn’t just my confession – it’s the reality faced by doctors everywhere.
I remember Lily, a mother who brought her feverish daughter in at 4:55 PM on a Friday. She was worried, exhausted, and insisted on antibiotics. I was running behind, had a waiting room full of patients, and yet – I didn’t write that prescription because I knew it was most likely a viral infection. Lily wasn’t happy, in fact, she turned belligerent and stormed out of my office and threatened to post a negative review. Multiply this scenario across thousands of clinics, and you’ll understand why we have an antibiotic resistance crisis.
A Global Health Emergency
Antibiotic resistance isn’t some distant threat – it’s here now. Common infections are becoming harder to treat. Medical procedures we take for granted, from C-sections to joint replacements, rely on effective antibiotics to prevent infection.
The statistics are alarming. The CDC estimates that over 35,000 Americans die yearly from antibiotic-resistant infections. Globally, that number reaches nearly 1.3 million. This silent pandemic costs our healthcare system billions while creating untold suffering.
What many people don’t realize is how much money is wasted on unnecessary prescriptions. Studies show that 30-50% of antibiotic prescriptions in outpatient settings aren’t needed. That’s billions of dollars spent on medications that don’t help patients and actively harm public health.
Why Do Doctors Overprescribe?
I’ve been on both sides of this problem. The reasons doctors reach for the prescription pad are complex:
- Patient expectations: Many patients aren’t satisfied without a prescription
- Diagnostic uncertainty: Without immediate test results, doctors often prescribe “just in case”
- Time constraints: It takes longer to explain why antibiotics won’t help than to prescribe them
- Defensive medicine: Fear of missing a bacterial infection that could worsen
As a physician, I’ve felt these pressures firsthand. In a 15-minute appointment, it’s challenging to be a perfect antibiotic steward while meeting patient expectations and managing other aspects of care.
A New Approach to an Old Problem
This challenge led me to create ChatRx. By combining clinical expertise with artificial intelligence, we’ve built a platform that helps tackle antibiotic resistance in ways traditional healthcare can’t.
Here’s how our AI-powered approach improves antibiotic stewardship:
- Data-driven decisions: Our algorithms analyze symptoms against thousands of clinical cases to determine when antibiotics are truly needed
- Consistent protocols: Unlike human doctors who may vary in their prescribing habits, our system applies evidence-based guidelines consistently
- Patient education: The platform explains why antibiotics aren’t appropriate for viral infections in a way patients understand
- Reduced prescriber bias: Without the face-to-face pressure of a patient asking for antibiotics, our system makes more objective decisions
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This isn’t about replacing human judgment – it’s about enhancing it. As a physician who’s struggled with these decisions, I’ve built a tool I wish I’d had during those Friday afternoon appointments.
Moving Beyond "Just in Case" Medicine
The impact of more responsible prescribing extends beyond fighting resistance. Patients benefit from avoiding unnecessary antibiotics that can cause side effects like diarrhea, yeast infections, and allergic reactions.
We’re seeing this impact firsthand across the Midwest. In our initial states of Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois, the need is particularly acute. Rural communities in these states often face significant healthcare access challenges, with some counties having fewer than one primary care doctor per 3,000 residents. This shortage creates the perfect storm for antibiotic overuse – when patients drive an hour to see a doctor, there’s even more pressure to leave with a prescription.
Our early data from these regions shows we’ve reduced unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions by approximately 30% compared to traditional care settings, while maintaining appropriate treatment for true bacterial infections.
Think about what this means: thousands of Midwestern patients getting the right care without contributing to antibiotic resistance or suffering needless side effects. For factory workers in Michigan, farmers in rural Indiana, or busy parents in Chicago, this means addressing infections quickly without taking time off work to visit a clinic.
Technology and Expertise: Better Together
 firmly believe that the future of antibiotic stewardship lies in this blending of human medical expertise and technological capabilities. At ChatRx, our physicians review and update clinical protocols regularly, ensuring that our AI recommendations reflect the latest evidence and best practices.
This partnership between clinicians and technology creates a system greater than the sum of its parts – more consistent than humans alone, more nuanced than algorithms alone.
Join the Movement for Smarter Prescribing
Every antibiotic prescription matters in the fight against resistance. By embracing innovation in how we diagnose and treat common infections, we can preserve these life-saving medications for future generations.
Whether you’re a healthcare provider, a patient, or simply someone concerned about public health, I invite you to learn more about antibiotic stewardship and how platforms like ChatRx are part of the solution.
Together, we can build a healthier future where antibiotics work when we truly need them.
Dr. Tod Stillson is a physician with over 30 years of experience and the founder of ChatRx, an AI-powered platform for responsible diagnosis and treatment of common infections.
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