When it’s time for your next medical exam, you might receive a call from someone like Ana: a friendly voice who can assist you in preparing for your appointment and addressing any urgent queries you may have. Ana, with her calm and welcoming demeanor, is trained to help patients feel comfortable, much like many nurses in the U.S. However, Ana stands out as she is an artificial intelligence program developed by Hippocratic AI, a company offering solutions to automate tasks typically performed by nurses and medical assistants. Available round the clock in multiple languages, from Hindi to Haitian Creole, Ana represents the growing presence of AI in healthcare.
This trend of AI integration in healthcare is evident in the increasing number of hospitals utilizing advanced computer programs to monitor patients’ vital signs, identify emergencies, and implement care plans — roles traditionally fulfilled by nurses and healthcare professionals. Hospitals claim that AI enhances nurses’ efficiency, addresses burnout, and mitigates understaffing. Nonetheless, nursing unions express concerns that this unfamiliar technology is superseding nurses’ expertise and compromising patient care quality.
National Nurses United, the largest nursing union in the U.S., has spearheaded demonstrations at hospitals nationwide to advocate for nurses’ involvement in AI implementation and safeguards against repercussions for disregarding automated recommendations. Recent statements by incoming health officials, suggesting AI as a substitute for medical staff, have heightened apprehensions within the nursing community.
Initially offering its AI assistants at a rate of $9 an hour in contrast to a registered nurse’s hourly rate of about $40, Hippocratic AI has since shifted its focus to emphasizing the thorough testing of its services. Hospitals have been utilizing various technologies to enhance care and cut costs, with recent efforts integrating data from sensors, microphones, and cameras into electronic medical records for predictive analysis. While AI holds potential benefits, there are concerns about generating false alarms and providing unsafe advice in clinical settings.
After Ian intervened, the patient began to receive a slow infusion of IV fluids. “You need to keep your thinking cap on — that’s why you’re being paid as a nurse,” Hart said. “Turning over our thought processes to these devices is reckless and dangerous.” Despite understanding the goal of AI to make monitoring multiple patients easier for nurses, Hart and others express concerns about the reality of false alarms. These alarms can mistakenly flag basic bodily functions, like a patient having a bowel movement, as emergencies.
Melissa Beebe, a cancer nurse at UC Davis Medical Center, shared, “You’re trying to focus on your work, but then you’re getting all these distracting alerts that may or may not mean something. It’s hard to even tell when it’s accurate and when it’s not because there are so many false alarms.”
While even advanced technology may overlook signs that nurses notice, such as facial expressions and odors, it is essential to not dismiss AI entirely. Michelle Collins, dean of Loyola University’s College of Nursing, emphasized the importance of embracing AI to enhance care without replacing the human touch.
With over 100,000 nurses leaving the workforce during the pandemic and an increasing need for nursing professionals, hospitals are looking to AI to support nurses and doctors in gathering information and communicating with patients, rather than taking over care entirely.
At the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, an AI assistant from Qventus has been assisting in making calls to patients and health providers to prepare for surgeries, reducing the need for overtime pay. This technology aims to streamline hospital operations, leading to quicker surgical turnarounds and reducing staff burnout. The hospital ensures transparency by having the AI assistant identify itself at the beginning of each call.
While some AI companies focus on administrative tasks, others like Xoltar are exploring more interactive roles for their technology. Xoltar is collaborating with the Mayo Clinic on AI avatars that conduct video calls with patients, offering cognitive techniques for managing chronic pain. These advancements aim to enhance patient care while supporting healthcare professionals in providing quality service.
According to Xoltar, a new program has shown promise in helping smokers quit by analyzing facial expressions, body language, and other cues during conversations lasting about 14 minutes with patients. Nursing experts specializing in AI suggest that such programs may be effective for patients who are proactive about their health. However, they also acknowledge that the majority of individuals within the healthcare system are those who require more extensive care due to serious illnesses. Roschelle Fritz from the University of California Davis School of Nursing emphasizes the importance of considering whether chatbots are suitable for this demographic. This information was provided by The Associated Press Health and Science Department, with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is responsible for the content.
