Some nurses have expressed concern about the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and virtual nursing in healthcare, arguing that these technologies could compromise patient safety.
AI has many applications in the healthcare industry. AI technologies often rely on algorithms developed from patients' electronic health records and other data sources collected from patients and their environments.
Healthcare leaders must consider all potential solutions, including AI, in an industry facing talent shortages, burnout, and rising costs. However, to fully understand how AI can positively impact healthcare, it is important to listen to the voices of nurses and caregivers on the front lines of patient care.
“Technology is powerful, but it cannot replace the critical connection between patients and caregivers that is essential to understanding a patient's greatest needs and concerns,” said Laura Templeton, Chief Operating Officer at Compassus. told Home Healthcare News. “Our goal is to help patients achieve the quality of life they desire. AI tools reduce administrative burden, allow caregivers to spend more time with patients, and help clinicians We can support this mission by helping patients make more efficient decisions. However, direct interaction with patients remains an important part of care delivery.”
Compassus is based in Brentwood, Tennessee and provides a variety of home care services. The company has approximately 7,000 team members and serves more than 270 locations in 30 states.
Many nurses are cautiously optimistic about AI. They are keen to provide insight into patient priorities in the development of AI-powered tools, but also emphasize the importance of maintaining quality care. But many have expressed concerns that AI could pose risks to patients and prioritize cost-cutting and free labor over actual patient needs.
“As our team seeks to develop new tools, our main questions are: 'How will this benefit patients and their families, and how will this support clinicians?' '' Templeton said. “Compassus' mission is to enhance patient well-being and maintain quality of life. As we introduce new tools such as predictive analytics, we ensure that these innovations are designed to support caregivers' clinical decisions. I emphasize that.”
An important example of modern healthcare technology is remote patient monitoring. The premise is that using technology to remotely monitor patients reduces the need for caregivers to maintain direct contact with patients. Sensors track patient movements and collect and analyze biometric information. If the algorithm detects relevant data, it alerts off-site technicians for further evaluation.
“Clinical decision support has been used in industry for many years, and using AI for this purpose is incredibly promising,” WellSky CEO Bill Miller said in a recent interview with HHCN. said. “But we've already seen examples of bias inadvertently creeping into some of these models. I think this is the point where we should 'pull the brakes' and scrutinize these features. . Human involvement in this process is always essential. ”
WellSky is an Overland Park, Kansas-based technology company that leverages software and analytics to help post-acute care providers achieve improved outcomes while reducing costs.
Nursing care concerns
A study conducted by National Nurses United (NNU), the largest registered nurses union in the United States, found that AI frequently contradicts and undermines nurses' clinical judgment.
“Surveys and reports from nurses across the country highlight the urgent need to pause the implementation of AI in healthcare settings,” NNU President Deborah Berger said in a statement. “As patient advocates, we must evaluate the available evidence and scrutinize unsubstantiated marketing claims that AI improves bedside skills or improves the quality of patient care. .”
The survey gathered responses from more than 2,300 registered nurses and NNU members.
“Nurses are frequently implementing technology that improves their bedside skills and improves the quality of care for patients,” says Berger. “However, the rapid introduction of untested and unregulated AI in healthcare settings threatens not only patients' right to personal care, but also their rights to privacy, transparency, and safety.” .”
Additionally, McKinsey & Company recently partnered with the American Nurses Foundation to conduct a study to assess nurses' perceptions of and experiences with AI. This study aims to understand the perceived risks and opportunities associated with various AI applications in the nursing field.
Of the 7,200 nurses surveyed, 42% expressed hope that AI could improve the quality of patient care. However, 235 participants expressed concerns about the technology's impact on patient safety.
Probing these concerns further, 61% of respondents cited trust in accuracy as their main concern, followed by issues related to lack of human interaction and lack of knowledge about how to use AI effectively. It continues. Additionally, 38% of respondents said that using AI to improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis and decision-making could pose the most significant risks to patient care.
Despite these concerns, the survey revealed cautious optimism among respondents about AI's potential to reduce workloads and support patients. Although most participants were reluctant to use AI to enhance patient and clinical education and medication management, they noted that additional training is needed to use the technology effectively. did.
“What's working best for us right now is engaging curious customers who are active on our advisory boards and asking about how we can improve the training of our employees,” Miller said. “AI-assisted caregiving is a valuable approach to addressing workforce challenges and empowering caregivers to work more effectively.A typical home health agency is We are serving America's most vulnerable people at a critical moment. The idea that technology can replace human touch during such a sensitive time is highly unlikely. .”
Technology company collaborates with nursing board to improve patient outcomes
Hippocratic AI announced a strategic partnership with the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) to increase the impact of nurses in the medical technology field.
Based in Palo Alto, California, Hippocratic AI leverages generative AI tools to prioritize patient-centered care.
The partnership will focus on multiple initiatives, including the development of leadership modules to prepare nurses for positions on health technology boards and advisory boards. Additionally, we will hold workshops on the use of AI. The aim is to bridge the gap between nursing and technology, with a focus on governance development, education and practice opportunities.
“I am extremely proud of our partnership with Nurses United,” Dr. Amy McCarthy, chief nursing officer at Hippocratic AI, said in a statement. “Together, we are championing a future where technology and nursing work hand in hand. By empowering nurses to participate in decision-making, we empower nurses who best understand patient care to innovate.” This collaboration not only amplifies nursing's voice in shaping AI solutions, but also supports ethical practices that are central to our mission to improve patient outcomes and transform healthcare delivery. and strengthen human-centered principles.”
This partnership builds on Hippocratic AI's existing efforts focused on nursing education and collaboration and NOBC's mission to strengthen community health care by increasing nurse involvement on boards and other bodies. It's based on.
“Our shared commitment to empowering nurses as agents of change in and outside of healthcare, enabling them to be decision makers and influencers in the boardroom,” NOBC CEO Dr. Cole Edmonson said in a statement. The vision is really inspiring.” “The combination of ethical AI, a holistic, human-centered nursing philosophy, and nurse leaders on board has the potential to transform the healthcare industry and improve the health of our nation.”
In 2010, the Washington, D.C.-based Nurses United recommended increasing the number of nurse leaders in important decision-making roles on boards and committees aimed at improving health for all people. It was established in response to a 2011 Institute of Medicine report. American.
