Moving Forward: AI Is Here to Stay

Some of the challenges of AI will be “ironed out over time,” said Holahan, but it is important to take steps to protect privacy, especially if AI is used to shared data between stakeholders. He also stressed the need for transparency. Team members, patients, and families alike deserve to know when and how AI is being used to support clinical and coverage decisions. ‘“AI can be a tremendous help and make our lives easier, but we need to be careful with how and where we use it,” he noted.

Everyone needs to realize that AI can’t replace human involvement in resident care. “It can help formulate the resident care plan and help ensure you’re coding the MDS correctly,” said Procell. There is no denying that AI is part of health care. In fact, she noted that nursing teams are probably using AI – such as in the form of decision prompts – even if they don’t realize it. However, there is no replacement for human touch and the value of person-centered care where providers know the residents, their preferences, and their goals.