Decision models can offload structured clinical tasks from large language models
Journal:
medRxiv
Published Date:
Oct 12, 2026
Abstract
Decision models like Jev read text and return probabilities, categories, or ordinal levels, with confidence scores for the latter two, at a fraction of large language models' (LLMs) cost. We explored how Jev could be integrated into clinical workflows for all these output types: mortality risk estimation, categorical Choosing-Wisely decisions for patient questions, and ordinal colon cancer staging. With standard LLM-style inputs, Jev trailed five flagship LLMs: mortality AUROC was 0.822 versus 0.837-0.846; Choosing-Wisely accuracy, 87.7% versus 98.4-100%; and staging accuracy, 45.4% versus 94.2-100%. Developer-recommended input alterations improved staging accuracy to 75.8% with medical context, 82.1% with task decomposition, and 85.8% with both. None of Jev's staging errors had full confidence. Using Jev for fully confident staging decisions and LLMs for the rest was non-inferior to each LLM alone and cut flagship LLM costs by 33-44%. Prompted as designed, decision models may efficiently share structured clinical tasks with LLMs.
