AI Nurses: A revolution or risk to patient care?

The next time you schedule a medical exam, you may receive a call from someone like Ana, an AI assistant.

Ana can help patients prepare for their appointments and answer questions in multiple languages, including Hindi and Haitian Creole.

Unlike human nurses, Ana is available 24/7 and designed to provide consistent and immediate responses to patient concerns.

Ana is an artificial intelligence program developed by Hippocratic AI to automate tasks typically performed by nurses and assistants.

AI’s Growing Role in Healthcare

AI is making rapid inroads into healthcare, helping hospitals monitor vital signs and trigger emergency response protocols.

Many hospitals now rely on AI to assist nurses in managing patients and reducing workload burdens.

Healthcare administrators believe AI can enhance efficiency and help address the ongoing nursing shortage crisis.

However, nursing unions warn that AI may override clinical judgment and reduce the quality of patient care.

Concerns from Nursing Unions

Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United said: Hospitals have been waiting for something that appears legitimate enough to replace nurses.”

Mahon’s union has organized over 20 protests demanding a say in AI implementation and safeguards for nurses.

Concerns escalated when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested AI nurses could provide care “as good as any doctor” in rural areas.

According to Dr Mehmet Oz, nominated to oversee Medicare, he stated that AI could “liberate doctors and nurses from paperwork.”

The Cost Factor

Hippocratic AI initially promoted a $9-per-hour rate for AI assistants, far lower than a registered nurse’s $40 per hour salary.

The company has since removed that comparison and now focuses on ensuring its services are thoroughly tested.

Despite requests, Hippocratic AI declined to provide interviews regarding its technology and pricing strategies.

False Alarms and AI-Driven Errors

Hospitals have long used technology to monitor patients, but AI-generated alerts sometimes create unnecessary distractions.

AI systems analyze medical records and attempt to predict health issues before nurses assess the patient.

Adam Hart, an emergency room nurse, recalled a case where AI incorrectly flagged a patient for sepsis.

Following AI recommendations, Hart was instructed to administer a large IV fluid dose without considering the patient’s kidney failure.

A physician later intervened, preventing a potential medical error caused by blind reliance on AI protocols.

“You need to keep your thinking cap on,” Hart said. “Turning over our thought processes to AI is reckless and dangerous.”

AI’s Impact on Nursing Workflows

Many nurses understand AI’s purpose but feel overwhelmed by constant false alarms and irrelevant notifications.

“You’re trying to focus, but you’re getting distracting alerts that may or may not mean something,” said nurse Melissa Beebe.

Nurses struggle to determine which AI-generated warnings require immediate attention and which are inaccurate.

Can AI Improve Hospital Care?

Even advanced AI struggles to recognize subtle patient cues like facial expressions, odors, and behavioral changes.

“Nurses routinely pick up on things AI misses,” said Michelle Collins, dean of Loyola University’s College of Nursing.

However, Collins believes AI should not be entirely dismissed and could complement human-led care.

“We should embrace what it can do to help, but it should never replace the human element,” she added.

Nursing Shortage and AI Solutions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 100,000 nurses left the workforce, marking the largest decline in 40 years.

With an aging population and retiring nurses, the U.S. expects 190,000 nursing job openings annually through 2032.

Hospitals see AI as a tool to bridge this gap by assisting with administrative work and patient communication.

AI-Assisted Patient Communication

At the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, AI now helps manage hundreds of pre-surgical patient calls weekly.

Nurses typically confirm prescription details, heart conditions, and other concerns before anesthesia is administered.

Patients often answer calls only in the evening, creating challenges for staff scheduling.

“We need to reach hundreds of patients in a short time, but I don’t want to pay overtime,” said Dr. Joseph Sanford.

Transparency in AI Communication

Since January, the hospital has used Qventus AI to contact patients, process medical records, and assist human staff.

Qventus operates in 115 hospitals, aiming to reduce surgery cancellations and administrative burdens.

Each call begins with the AI assistant clearly identifying itself as a non-human system.

“We always want patients to know whether they’re speaking to a human or AI,” Sanford said.

Expanding AI’s Role in Healthcare

Some AI developers envision technology handling more complex patient interactions beyond administrative tasks.

Israeli startup Xoltar specializes in AI-driven video avatars for patient consultations.

The company is working with the Mayo Clinic to develop an AI coach for managing chronic pain.

Xoltar is also testing an avatar that assists smokers in quitting by analyzing facial expressions and body language.

The Future of AI in Healthcare

AI programs may be effective for healthy patients who actively manage their care.

However, nursing experts worry about AI’s suitability for critically ill patients requiring nuanced human attention.

“It’s the very sick who dominate healthcare,” said Roschelle Fritz of the UC Davis School of Nursing.

“We must consider whether AI chat bots are truly equipped to handle these vulnerable populations.”

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