Artificial intelligence can make the organisation of healthcare services more efficient, support continuing professional development and facilitate access to scientific knowledge. But in emergency situations, where every decision requires experience, responsibility and the ability to assess unpredictable situations, human judgement remains irreplaceable. This is the firm belief of Luca D’Antonio, a nurse, paramedic and trainer with Ares 118 in Rome, who took part in the The Future of Care programme to explore the role of AI in professional practice.
At 38, Luca works in the Appio Latino district (the east-central part of the capital) and is very interested in the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare: “I use AI in my work, particularly in the field of training, having carried out research as part of my master’s degree programme. I’ve always used traditional scientific search engines, but as I progressed through my postgraduate studies, I came to appreciate the role of AI more and more. By comparing the two, I realised that artificial intelligence often provides results that are presented in a clearer and less disorganised manner; it doesn’t follow the traditional format of a research study.”
“If we consider learning and training in postgraduate studies, AI can prove to be the right tool for providing a very solid foundation on which to build and reinforce one’s knowledge. As for the basic concepts, I believe traditional learning is essential in order to lay the foundations more firmly!”
Luca believes that all new technologies, when they first emerge, reveal both a ‘constructive’ and a ‘destructive’ side: “Having taken part in the course, I can say that when the tool is used alongside humans, it offers the greatest potential; when it is used in their place, it leads to the replacement of people, without them realising it.”
Naturally, Luca’s role is closely tied to the physical presence of the healthcare professional: “I am well aware that in my line of work, which requires pragmatic skills – and above all, skills that are not strictly technical – there is no risk of being replaced. We can benefit from AI during less busy periods on the ground, to re-evaluate procedures and protocols on a scientific basis.
“I believe that artificial intelligence can be an extremely valuable aid in facilitating the optimal management of hospital flows, offering a broader perspective that is less influenced by personal experience, as well as being applicable in the field of coordination and therefore the scheduling of staff shifts. Furthermore, it would be a very valuable support tool for community medicine, organised around health centres and general practitioners.”
In the context of emergencies – which are part of Luca’s daily routine – the human “mind and eye” are, however, regarded as fundamental. “I believe AI is useful in the pharmacological management of dosages. But I am aware that dilutions and percentages should be a cornerstone of an emergency nurse’s skills, to minimise the risk of error.”
In essence, ‘The Future of Care’ has proved to be a useful and important course “because it is only through knowledge that we can engage with the new developments on the horizon and, if we are intelligent enough, adapt rather than remain static in the face of this new world”.
