Digital health, the Opi launches the challenge: "Artificial Intelligence supports, it does not replace the nurse"

Can an algorithm restore time to the human relationship between nurse and patient? The answer, which emerged strongly during the conference promoted by the Opi di Agrigento, is a "yes" with conviction, provided that technology remains a support and never a substitute for clinical judgment. At the headquarters of the Order, a crowd of professionals gathered to explore the boundary between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Evidence-Based Medicine, under the patronage of Fnopi.

More time for care, less for bureaucracy

The key concept is intelligent automation. "AI can support the nurse in detecting vital signs, managing shifts, or in health documentation" – explained Salvatore Occhipinti, president of Opi Agrigento. The goal is paradoxical yet fascinating: to use machines to be more human. By delegating repetitive tasks to artificial intelligence, the professional recovers precious minutes to dedicate to direct patient bedside care. Even in triage, AI can offer quick assessments, but Occhipinti warns: "Human assessment cannot be overlooked".

The dilemma of error: training machines with science

While the potential is incredible, the risk of "hallucinations" or software errors is still present. "Technologies are not yet mature enough to avoid making mistakes" – emphasized Pietro Giurdanella (Fnopi) – "for this reason, the nurse must have full awareness of the tool they are using".

The solution comes from scientific rigor. Dario Taborelli, CEO of DatAimed, highlighted how technology is advancing faster than laws, making a rigorous clinical validation in hospitals necessary. To reduce margins of error, as explained by CTO Giorgio Maritano, AI models are "fed" exclusively with data from the most authoritative databases and certified scientific journals, avoiding the background noise of unverified web content.

The heart remains human

Despite the push towards digital, the focus remains on the unique bond between those who care and those who are cared for. "We are not machines, but machines can help us" – concluded Pasquale Iozzo (Asp Agrigento). The fear that AI might cool the human relationship is overcome by a collaborative vision: the digital tool as an "shadow assistant" that enhances the safety of care, leaving the nurse with the irreplaceable role of guardian of empathy and relationship.