UW Health: Pioneering the Future of Nursing with AI

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, nurses at UW Health are taking a bold step into the future by piloting the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to address workforce shortages and burnout. This innovative approach aims to improve the care experience for patients and redefine the role of nurses in the healthcare ecosystem.

“It’s critical that we as nurses are part of the conversation when it comes to using this technology to care for patients.” - Rudy Jackson, Chief Nurse Executive, UW Health

The journey began in April 2023, when a small group of physicians at UW Health joined a pilot program with Microsoft and Epic to make generative AI available to clinicians. The AI, specifically a large language model (LLM), drafts responses to patient messages in MyChart, the patient portal created by Epic. The clinical team members then review and edit for accuracy, tone, and information before responding to patient questions and requests.

In September, the first cohort of nurses began using the draft messages in response to patient messages in MyChart. Since then, more than 75 UW Health nurses have begun using generative AI, which has assisted them in creating more than 3,000 messages across more than 30 departments.

AI-powered healthcare: The future is now

“This has been a fascinating process, and one I’ve been glad to be part of,” said Amanda Weber, Registered Nurse Clinic Supervisor, UW Health. “I have found having a draft to start from helpful, and I’m glad I could provide feedback on improvements and features to ensure this can be a good tool for nurses and have a positive impact on our patients.”

Every message drafted using LLMs is reviewed and edited, if needed, by a person, and the user is responsible for the accuracy and appropriateness of the contents. Patient information is kept private and secure within the electronic health records system.

UW Health has a strong reputation for developing and enacting tools to strengthen the future of nursing. The organization has two nurse residency programs, ambulatory and inpatient, as well as a nurse externship program to bring new nurses into the system, help train them alongside experienced nurses, and acclimate them to their careers.

Nurse residency programs: Building a strong foundation for the future of nursing

The ambulatory residency program began in 2021, and the inpatient program began in 2004. Since then, the first-year retention rate at UW Health for nurses has been 97%. The national retention average for hospitals with a nurse residency program is 91%. For hospitals that do not have nurse residency programs, the retention rate is 71%.

In 2023, UW Health launched the first registered nurse apprenticeship program of its kind in the nation with Madison College and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to reduce barriers and create a pathway to a rewarding career in nursing.

“We are not immune to the workforce shortages in healthcare, and we’re also seeing a growing demand for our care,” said Rudy Jackson. “We’re eager to try innovative methods to ensure our nurses have the tools they need to focus on caring for their patients.”

Nursing innovation: Embracing AI to enhance patient care

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, UW Health nurses are leading the way in harnessing the power of AI to improve patient care and redefine the future of nursing.

UW Health nurses: Pioneers in AI-powered healthcare