AI Enhances Patient Rest While Reducing Healthcare Staff Workload

A team from the Feinstein Institutes for Research believes that artificial intelligence (AI) could play a crucial role in helping patients get more restful sleep while simultaneously alleviating pressures on healthcare staff. Adequate sleep is essential for recovery, yet many patients, particularly those in pain or dealing with insomnia, often find it challenging to achieve.

“Rest is a critical element to a patient’s care, and disrupted sleep is a common issue that can hinder recovery and delay discharge,” explained Theodoros Zanos, an Assistant Professor at Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine. When patients do manage to sleep, being woken up for routine vital checks can disrupt their rest, despite these measurements being essential.

In a study published in Nature Partner Journals, the researchers introduced a deep-learning predictive tool designed to assess a patient’s overnight stability. By doing so, it minimizes unnecessary checks during the night. This AI was trained on vital sign data from 2.13 million patient visits at Northwell Health hospitals in New York, covering the years 2012 to 2019. The dataset included critical metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, respiratory rate, and age, aggregating to 24.3 million vital sign records.

When evaluated, the AI’s predictions were remarkably accurate, misdiagnosing only 2 out of 10,000 overnight patients. The researchers noted that nurses on their usual rounds could address the errors identified.

According to the research, nurses spend approximately 20-35% of their time documenting patient vitals, with an additional 10% dedicated to collecting them. Typically, nurses must check a patient’s vitals every four to five hours, contributing to a workload that can be overwhelming. This staggering amount of responsibility makes it clear why medical staff often feel stressed. Implementing AI to streamline these tasks can significantly enhance patient care while allowing healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to their essential roles.

The AI tool is now set to be deployed across various Northwell Health facilities. Interested in exploring industry insights on such innovations? Join us at the upcoming co-located events including 5G Expo, IoT Tech Expo, Blockchain Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo World Series, scheduled to take place in Silicon Valley, London, and Amsterdam.