BusinessAI Nurses: Staffing Tool or Threat to Quality Care?
As hospitals grapple with staff shortages and rising costs, artificial intelligence is being touted as a potential solution. Companies are developing AI programs to automate tasks traditionally performed by nurses and medical assistants, from patient communication to monitoring vital signs. But, is this a step towards a better healthcare system or a threat to the quality of care?
These AI assistants, often presented as friendly voices or human-like avatars, handle various responsibilities, including pre-appointment communication, answering basic questions, and even providing guidance. They work around the clock, in multiple languages, offering a level of availability human nurses can’t match.
One example of this technology is Hippocratic AI, which offers AI assistants to automate time-consuming tasks, such as communicating with patients. Qventus provides an administrative service for contacting patients and health providers, sending and receiving medical records and summarizing their contents for human staffers.
While hospital administrators claim AI helps nurses work more efficiently and addresses burnout, nursing unions express major concerns.
“Hospitals have been waiting for the moment when they have something that appears to have enough legitimacy to replace nurses,” said Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United.
National Nurses United, the largest nursing union in the U.S., has organized demonstrations over AI’s use, advocating for nurses’ right to influence AI implementation and protection from discipline if they question automated advice.
The debate surrounding AI in healthcare is not new, and it is intensifying. The issue has garnered increased attention, particularly when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested that AI nurses could deliver care in rural areas, and Dr. Mehmet Oz claimed AI could free doctors and nurses from paperwork.
AI’s potential has been used to streamline costs, using sensors, microphones, and cameras to analyze patient data, monitor vital signs, flag emergencies and suggest action plans for care. However, it’s not without its problems.
Adam Hart, an emergency room nurse, experienced firsthand how AI can lead to potentially harmful decisions. A hospital’s computer system flagged a patient for sepsis, prompting the immediate administration of intravenous fluids. But, after assessing the patient, Hart realized the patient was a dialysis patient who needed to be carefully managed to prevent fluid overload. Despite raising his concern, he was instructed to follow the standard protocol until a physician intervened.
“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.”
Other nurses share concerns about false alarms and the potential to override clinical judgement. Melissa Beebe, a cancer nurse, noted that the constant stream of alerts can be distracting, making it difficult to discern between accurate and inaccurate information.
Michelle Collins, Dean of Loyola University’s College of Nursing, acknowledges the limitations of AI in not being able to pick up on the nuances of a patient’s health: “Even the most sophisticated technology will miss signs that nurses routinely pick up on, such as facial expressions and odors.” However, she believes turning away from technology entirely would be foolish and that it should complement, not replace, the human element.
Hospitals are facing a severe nursing shortage, with more than 100,000 nurses leaving the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. government projects over 190,000 new nursing positions to open annually through 2032 as the population ages and nurses retire.
In Little Rock, Arkansas, the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences uses an AI assistant from Qventus to contact hundreds of patients weekly to confirm pre-surgery information. Joseph Sanford, who oversees the center’s health IT, notes the AI helps call patients within a short timeframe to prepare for surgery. The hospital always notifies patients that they may not be speaking to a human. While the AI assistant handles administrative tasks, the aim is to improve hospital earnings through quicker surgical turnarounds and reduce burnout.
Companies like Xoltar are developing AI avatars to improve the patient experience. These virtual assistants, that can read facial expressions and body language, are designed for patient education, particularly for chronic pain and to help with quitting smoking. However, nursing experts question the technology’s suitability for the sickest patients.
The debate surrounding AI in healthcare is ongoing, with no easy answers. While AI offers a promising solution to staffing shortages and can assist with administrative tasks, it’s essential to consider its potential downsides and the impact of automation on the quality of patient care.
