The Health Care AI Revolution Has Arrived
The topic of artificial intelligence (AI) is one that is causing considerable buzz these days, especially with the recent development and uses of ChatGPT. AI is finding its way into many different fields, including health care.
AI Use in Health Care
Those who feel uneasy with developments in AI technology can find some consolation in the fact that this technology is already being used to some degree in health care. In fact, it’s revolutionizing the way nurses work and deliver care.
AI is a relatively broad scientific discipline that aims to create machines that function in tasks that require human intelligence. Incorporating AI into health care allows nurses to provide more personalized care and improve patient outcomes. Nurses must have strict attention to detail when caring for patients, and that is often unsustainable in practice with the increasing number of patients nurses are being asked to take on. Utilizing AI resources can help support the heavy workload.
One of the most significant benefits of AI in nursing is its ability to predict patient outcomes and aid clinical decision-making. These support tools are incorporated into the electronic health record (EHR) and can be used to predict future health issues using mathematical algorithms to analyze patient data and identify patterns. AI can optimize the decisions nurses are required to make, as the technology can monitor and assess patients’ charts quickly and accurately, providing necessary insight into making the best decisions for each patient. This knowledge enables nurses to confidently use information generated by algorithms to intervene early and prevent complications. Alerts activated in the EHR can help identify patients at risk for falls, pressure ulcers, or sepsis, allowing nurses to take proactive measures to prevent these events.
Impacts of AI During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant need for mobile health care options, and AI technology was utilized to promote health care practices. Many patients dealing with chronic illnesses that require consistent monitoring were faced with the reality of needing to stay home during the pandemic. To better serve these patients, mobile health technologies were used. These included smartphones and apps that would send information tracked from the patient directly to their providers. Once the data was uploaded to an EHR, providers were able to assess patterns based on what was observed using algorithms.
The pandemic also introduced challenges in controlling disease exposure and the need for personal protection equipment (PPE). As a means of reducing exposure and the amount of essential PPE being used, nurses chose to engage with patients remotely using various applications. Nurses used voice assistant applications and robots to supplement care that had previously been conducted in person but was now being done at home. Using voice assistants, health care professionals can set up reminders and warnings for chronically ill and elderly patients while at home, and these applications rely heavily on AI technology.
Buntain College of Nursing (BCON) alumnus Juana Gallegos developed an idea that uses a smart video app through an AI interface to promote care for those living with dementia. Using this app, patients are able to interact and ask questions with an AI version of their trusted family member in moments of severe confusion and agitation. Her innovative idea recently earned her the Queen Silvia Nursing Award, and more ideas like hers are essential for promoting health care in the lives of chronically ill and elderly patients.
Robots in Health Care?
While AI technology in health care is predominantly found in applications and medical records, robotic technology is also making significant contributions to nursing practice. Using AI technology, engineers are developing robots that are able to provide emotional responses in diverse situations. These types of robots, often known as social robots, are meant to provide emotional support to patients who may be isolated from others due to illness or age. Robots can also directly assist in patient care by performing routine tasks, such as taking vital signs or administering medications. Since nurses are often required to care for many patients during every shift, having robots complete nonessential tasks provides greater capacity for nurse professionals to focus on more critical responsibilities.
Challenges of Using AI
Despite the numerous benefits of AI in nursing practice, there are also challenges to its implementation. Nurses need to have adequate training and education on AI technologies to use them effectively, and this can take significant time and resources. AI does offer a lot of support for nurses, but those who develop the software must regularly partner with nurse professionals to reach the desired outcomes. It is essential to involve nurses in the development and implementation of AI technologies to ensure that they address nursing practice's unique challenges.
Overall, AI is transforming nursing practice and enhancing patient care and outcomes. Nurses are increasingly utilizing AI technologies to provide more personalized and efficient care. Though the current technology is making significant change to the practice of health care, it does not replace the need for real nurses. AI has the potential to revolutionize health care, but nurses must be at the forefront of this transformation to ensure that patient care remains the central focus.