Nurses Express Concern Over Absence of AI Regulations in Hospitals
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Artificial intelligence (AI) has been used for years in healthcare settings, even before becoming publicly familiar, according to Judy Schmidt, CEO of the New Jersey State Nurses Association. AI can improve healthcare by automating administrative work, offering virtual nursing assistance, and predicting patient outcomes. However, the scarcity of laws around AI’s use in hospitals calls for regulations to protect individuals from possible technology errors.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Insight and Questions
Judy Schmidt, a nurse at the Community Medical Center in New Jersey, has noticed the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in patient care. She recalls the early applications of AI in health-monitoring devices, which have now become commonplace in intensive care units.
AI has been transforming healthcare for years, even before its widespread acknowledgement, notes Schmidt, who also serves as CEO of the New Jersey State Nurses Association. Modern electronic health records can predict symptoms of major illnesses, and medical educators widely use simulations with AI-programmed mannequins.
With swift advancements, AI technologies are extending to robotics in surgeries, sparking practical and ethical discussions among medical professionals. Besides streamlining administrative work, AI provides virtual nursing assistance, predicts patient health risks, and facilitates remote consultations in telehealth services.
However, the lack of comprehensive laws concerning AI use in healthcare concerns practitioners. They fear a scarcity of safeguards for potential mistakes caused by AI technology in hospitals and beyond.
Despite the increasing reliance on AI, it’s essential to remember that human interpretation and application of data remain crucial, emphasizes Schmidt. The lack of legislative regulations also incites worry among healthcare experts, says Richard Ridge, an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Virginia. He stresses the importance of including nurses in policy discussions, given their patient-centric perspective.
Need for AI Regulations in Healthcare
State legislators have proposed bills to regulate AI in healthcare, but only one has passed in Georgia, allowing AI devices in eye exams. A Pennsylvania bill waiting for approval would make it mandatory for insurers to disclose their use of AI in reviewing claims.
An Illinois bill proposes a maximum number of patients for each registered nurse and empowers nurses to override AI recommendations if necessary. The American Nurses Association asserts that AI cannot replace nursing skills or judgement.
With rapid advances in AI, the concerns are mounting. Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, calls for a regulatory framework like the EU AI Act, potentially the world’s first AI governance law, which stipulates rules for AI and holds technology developers accountable.
Maintaining patient trust is crucial as AI evolves. Health providers must ensure a human-centered approach to innovation, suggests Jennifer Shepherd, vice president of the Virginia Nurses Association. She proposes the term ‘human-centered AI’ to make the concept less intimidating.
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