Oracle targets nurses with latest AI tool

Oracle, a leading technology company, has expanded its clinical artificial intelligence agent to include nurses in the U.S. This follows the tool's initial launch for physicians two years ago. Oracle Health's AI agent now helps nurses in navigating patient charts and generating nursing summaries, aiming to alleviate administrative burden.

For doctors, the AI agent autonomously drafts clinical notes, proposes follow-up lab tests, and generates discharge summaries. In August, Oracle added chart review assistance, dictation, and automated coding to the tool. Oracle's executive vice president and general manager, Seema Verma, highlighted the importance of nurses' time, stating that much of their day is spent on manual, repetitive work.

The company's goal is to enhance nurses' efficiency through AI. Currently, existing clinical AI agent customers will have immediate access to the new functionalities. Despite being primary users of clinical systems, nurses are often excluded from AI conversations, leading to lower AI adoption rates compared to doctors. According to a survey, 41% of nurses feel their opinions are rarely considered in AI decisions, and they use AI regularly at a rate of 57%, compared to 57% of physicians.

Oracle's efforts to integrate AI into nursing practices come as the company continues to develop AI tools for health systems. Last year, Oracle launched an AI-backed electronic health record system for ambulatory providers, with plans to extend this to acute care settings. In August, the company made its AI-powered patient portal generally available to U.S. users.