The next time you’re due for a medical exam, you might receive a call from an AI nurse like Ana. Ana is an AI program developed by Hippocratic AI, designed to assist patients in preparing for appointments and answering questions. Unlike human nurses, Ana can chat 24/7 in multiple languages. This marks the growing presence of AI in healthcare, where hospitals use advanced computer programs to monitor patients’ vital signs, flag emergencies, and guide care plans, tasks traditionally handled by nurses. Hospitals claim AI enhances efficiency and addresses staffing issues, but nursing unions argue it undermines nurses’ expertise and reduces care quality.
Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United stated that hospitals are eager to replace nurses with AI. Her union has organized over 20 protests nationwide, advocating for nurses’ input on AI usage and protection from discipline for disregarding automated advice. AI systems can generate false alarms and dangerous advice, as seen when a Nevada hospital’s system incorrectly flagged a dialysis patient for sepsis treatment. Nurses understand AI’s goal to ease their workload but face challenges with frequent false alerts.
While AI may miss signs human nurses detect, such as facial expressions and odors, it can still augment care. With over 100,000 nurses leaving the workforce during the pandemic, hospital administrators see AI as vital for supporting nurses and doctors in gathering information and communicating with patients. Some hospitals use AI assistants for administrative tasks, while others explore AI’s potential in patient interactions, like teaching cognitive techniques for pain management. However, experts caution that AI may not suit all patients, especially the severely ill.
— news from The Associated Press