Artificial intelligence is everywhere.
AI technology promises to create untold efficiencies and, in turn, solutions to so many of the thorny issues of workforce, care, operations and more.
Still, caution with this emerging tool is advised, experts say.
“AI is not new,” says Majd Alwan, PhD, chief strategy and growth officer for ThriveWell Tech. “Alan Turing, a computer scientist who is considered the ‘godfather’ of AI, devised what is known as the Turing Test in 1950, which asks, ‘Can a computer convince a human they’re communicating with another human?’”
Recent examples of innovation at work:
• Certainty-based location visibility, which Deric Blattenberger, general manager, Senior Care, CenTrak, describes as “enterprise visibility with location certainty,” supported by Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) through wearable pendants.
• CarePredict has developed a continuous activity and behavior observation platform that uses AI to learn correlations between particular changes in activity and behaviors and labeled health events, says Satish Movva, CEO and founder of CarePredict.
Alwan asserts that the “deep learning” promises of AI in long-term care seem endless — everything from fall detection and medication management to early detection of pressure ulcers.
“AI can play a significant role in early identification of risk,” notes TK King, vice president of healthcare strategy for Accushield. “Its ability to scan data, search for keywords, and evaluate trends means it can pinpoint staffing needs and resident risks.”
Still, healthcare experts agree many issues surrounding risk need to be tested.
Movva urges early adopters to be mindful of privacy and security concerns. And Blattenberger warns of a risky upcoming phase that introduces virtual caregivers and “approximate” outcomes.
Alwan describes current efforts as a significantly acceleration and competitive “race,” and warns adopters to protect data from corruption or premature release.
He’s also adamant about ensuring that humans remain in charge of testing and evaluation.
From the October 2023 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
