Background:

Medical deserts, regions with limited access to healthcare services, pose a significant challenge to global health equity. They result from factors such as geographic isolation, economic constraints, healthcare workforce shortages, and technological barriers. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI), telemedicine, and large language models (LLMs) offers promising solutions to mitigate these disparities by expanding healthcare accessibility and improving efficiency.

Aim of the study:

This review explores the role of AI, telemedicine, and digital tools in alleviating the phenomenon of medical deserts. It evaluates their applications, benefits, challenges, and real-world implementations, with a special focus on Poland's healthcare system.

Methodology:

A comprehensive literature review was conducted on AI-driven healthcare applications, telemedicine solutions, and LLMs in medical settings. Sources include peer-reviewed studies, governmental reports, and case studies from healthcare systems worldwide.

Results:

AI and telemedicine have demonstrated significant potential in increasing healthcare accessibility in rural and remote areas. Telemedicine enables remote consultations, remote patient monitoring (RPM), and teleradiology, reducing travel time and costs for patients in underserved regions. AI-driven tools, such as predictive analytics, automated diagnostics, and intelligent triage systems, help optimize healthcare resources and alleviate workforce shortages. LLMs, including GPT-4, enhance clinical decision-making, automate medical documentation, and provide AI-driven patient education. However, challenges such as digital infrastructure gaps, regulatory limitations, and AI model transparency must be addressed to ensure equitable and ethical implementation.

Conclusions:

AI, telemedicine, and LLMs are transformative technologies that can significantly reduce the impact of medical deserts. While they improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency, their integration requires robust infrastructure, regulatory adaptation, and ethical considerations. Further research and policy efforts should focus on expanding digital health initiatives, particularly in low-resource settings, to ensure sustainable and inclusive healthcare solutions.