As Taiwan enters an era of low birth rates and an aging population, the long-term care (LTC) system is facing significant challenges. Currently, each elderly person is supported by 4 to 5 working-age adults, but in 20 years, that number will drop to less than two. Even before the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI at the end of 2022, Smart Ageing Tech was already using generative AI to help nurses save time on nursing record entries. In recent years, Smart Ageing Tech has further introduced the "AI 10X Plan," which includes features such as the "Family Care Companion" system. These tools assist nursing institutions with communication and expedite the generation of shift reports, aiming to minimize the reliance on caregiving personnel.
Global studies show that nursing staff spend 60% of their time on "Indirect Care," which includes tasks like record-keeping, shift handovers, medical record management, and communication with family members. Only 40% of their time is spent on "Direct Care." In long-term care institutions, nurses spend more than 200 hours per month on record-keeping, accounting for one-third of their total working hours, not including additional tasks like data analysis and case coordination.
Managing family relations often requires communication through LINE or phone calls to address various issues. These indirect care tasks not only consume a lot of time but also lead to exhaustion among nursing staff, resulting in high turnover rates.
Using Transformer Technology to Assist with Nursing Records
Shih-Chung Jessy Kang, CEO of Smart Ageing Tech, observed that Taiwan is under increasing pressure from its aging population, but the overall system is not yet fully prepared. He brought together interdisciplinary experts, including those from software engineering, construction engineering, data science, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work, to focus on innovative smart LTC solutions. Their goal is to provide long-term care institutions with tools for digital transformation, using advanced information and technology to address challenges and enhance care quality.
Smart Ageing Tech is the first team in Taiwan’s long-term care industry to implement and practice the CBA (Cloud-Big data-AI) model. AI is widely applied across various areas. For example, their AI-driven nursing record system covers 67 nursing record items and includes a built-in vocabulary of 2,500 terms. The AI guides staff through relevant modules, helping them record data quickly and accurately.
In his article titled "The Transformer Technology Behind ChatGPT: How Jubo Enhances Understanding of Nursing Records", Shih-Chung Jessy Kang explains how the Jubo system uses the latest Transformer technology to develop a new generation of nursing information systems. Unlike traditional nursing information systems that only collect data passively, the Jubo system actively assists in completing nursing records through natural language processing.
In addition, Smart Ageing Tech integrates Internet of Things (IoT) carts, smart care systems, and decision-support systems to create a digital and user-friendly work environment for caregivers. This is expected to reduce documentation time by 30% and decrease the workload of indirect care by 15%.
The "Smart Care Solution" and the "AI 10X Plan"
By introducing AI technology into their "Smart Care Solution," Smart Ageing Tech brings over NT$1.12 million in benefits to care institutions each year. Currently, more than 1,000 long-term care institutions across Taiwan use their smart systems, with a market share exceeding 30%. They have accumulated over 1.1 billion care records.
The core of Smart Ageing Tech’s "AI 10X Plan" lies in integrating generative AI to improve operational efficiency in care and reduce the burden on caregiving personnel. The plan has three key goals:
AI-Enhanced Record Management: AI will automatically generate and simplify nursing records and shift summaries, significantly reducing the time nurses spend on record-keeping, allowing them to focus more on direct patient care.
AI-Driven Family Interaction: Using automated communication tools, AI will handle most of the information exchanges with the family members of care recipients. The system can directly answer questions, ensuring clarity and consistency in communication, reducing paperwork, and fostering more meaningful interactions.
Proactive AI Risk Detection: The AI system will automatically detect care recipients’ medical histories and data, identify potential health risks, and promptly alert care professionals for timely intervention, effectively preventing potential hazards.
Shih-Chung Jessy Kang stated, "Our 'AI 10X Plan' aims to significantly enhance the effectiveness of care through AI technology, allowing caregivers, care recipients, and their families to enjoy higher-quality care services. By integrating these AI-driven features into our solutions, we can reduce the burden of caregiving tasks in both long-term care and family care settings."
Resource (mandarin): 智齡科技數位整合照護 「10倍速」提升長照品質
