How AI Could Help NPs, PAs, and Primary Care Improve Dermatology Care

In a previous interview, Kimberly Madison, DNP, and Jade Trevino, BSN, RN, discussed how AI-assisted teledermatology could help reduce dermatology wait times and expand access to care. Building on that conversation, the pair explained that those benefits depend on using AI as a clinical decision-support tool, not a replacement for clinician expertise. They discussed how AI can help nurse practitioners and physician associates narrow differential diagnoses, improve documentation, support referral decisions, and create more meaningful patient interactions while keeping clinicians firmly in control of patient care.¹

AI Is an Enhancement, Not a Replacement

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into clinical practice, Madison said one of the biggest misconceptions is that it is designed to replace clinicians. Instead, she described AI as an enhancement tool that helps clinicians work more efficiently while keeping patient care firmly grounded in clinical expertise.

Although AI continues to improve, Madison cautioned that hallucinations, inaccurate references, and unreliable medical information remain real concerns. She emphasized that clinicians must have enough baseline knowledge to recognize incorrect information and continue applying their own clinical judgment throughout the decision-making process.¹²

We're trained. You don't treat machines and data; you treat the patient — Kimberly Madison, DNP

Trevino agreed, noting that AI excels at pattern recognition and image analysis but cannot evaluate patients as comprehensively as a clinician.

"We're looking at them as a whole person, and AI is using a much more narrow lens," Trevino said, adding that keeping "a human in the loop" remains essential as AI adoption expands.¹

Giving Clinicians More Time With Patients

Rather than replacing clinical thinking, Madison said AI can streamline many of the administrative tasks that reduce face-to-face patient time.

With thousands of potential dermatologic diagnoses to consider during a brief office visit, AI can help narrow differential diagnoses more quickly, allowing clinicians to reach an appropriate treatment plan sooner. Madison also highlighted AI's ability to assist with charting, identify age-related or skin of color considerations, and support communication when language barriers exist.

Those efficiencies, she said, ultimately allow clinicians to spend less time documenting and more time engaging with patients.¹³

Madison also noted that many patients are already using AI before arriving at appointments to prepare questions or better understand their symptoms. When used responsibly by both clinicians and patients, AI can make office visits more productive and focused.³

Supporting NPs in Primary Care

For nurse practitioners practicing outside of dermatology, Trevino believes AI could play an important role in strengthening clinical confidence.

She explained that many primary care providers receive limited dermatology training, making skin disease diagnosis and management challenging. As a result, uncertainty may lead to referrals that could potentially be managed in primary care.¹

AI-assisted decision support may help clinicians determine whether a lesion or inflammatory skin condition can be treated with first- or second-line therapy before referral, while also helping prioritize which patients require urgent dermatology evaluation. Trevino emphasized, however, that AI should guide, not replace, clinical decision-making.

Building Trust in AI

Both speakers stressed that successful AI implementation depends on transparency and trust.

Madison said clinicians should understand how AI tools are developed, what populations were used to train them, and whether potential biases have been addressed before incorporating them into patient care. Proper education, she said, allows clinicians to recognize when AI is appropriate and when personal clinical judgment should take precedence.¹²

She also emphasized that protecting patient data and safeguarding clinicians' intellectual property must remain priorities as AI adoption grows.

Educating Patients on Responsible AI Use

Madison believes nurses are uniquely positioned to help patients navigate AI responsibly because of the trust they have built with the public.

As AI reduces administrative burden and creates more time during patient visits, clinicians have greater opportunities to educate patients about using AI safely, recognizing potential red flags, and finding credible health information online. Trevino echoed that message, emphasizing that AI works best as a tool that strengthens, not replaces, the clinician-patient relationship.¹

REFERENCES:

1. Madison K, Trevino J. Artificial intelligence-assisted teledermatology: improving access to dermatologic care through clinical decision support. https://jcadonline.com/ai-assisted-dermatology-in-provider-shortage-areas
2. Mahagony Dermatology. 2026. Accessed July 24, 2026. https://www.mahoganydermatology.com/about
3. Madison K, Trevino J. Interview with Dermatology Times. July 2026. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021;372:n71. doi:10.1136/bmj.n71. https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/ai-assisted-dermatology-shows-promise-for-reducing-wait-times