淺談在人工智慧時代下醫療照護負荷──以護理缺工為例

A Brief Discussion on the Burden of Healthcare in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: A Case Study on the Nursing Workforce Shortage

現今在人工智慧時代下醫療照護面臨的挑戰，特別聚焦於護理人力不足問題。人工智慧具備高效資料處理、自動化決策與學習能力，已廣泛應用於醫療領域，如病歷分析、疾病預測與手術輔助等，能降低行政負擔並提升醫療效率。然而，人工智慧無法取代醫護人員的同理心與人際溝通，因此應視為輔助工具。護理人力短缺因人口老化、少子化及工時壓力與薪資不符等問題而加劇，影響病人安全與醫療品質，國際上很多國家皆陸續開始引進外籍人力與人工智慧輔助，改善職場環境及護理缺工現象。導入人工智慧仍面臨法規、成本與倫理挑戰，需政府與多方共同訂定規範，並強化教育訓練與數位基礎設施，實現醫療照護與人工智慧結合及輔助永續照護的共榮模式。

In the current era of artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare systems are facing significant challenges, particularly the issue of nursing staff shortages. AI, with its capabilities in efficient data processing, automated decision-making, and machine learning, has been widely applied in the medical field-including medical record analysis, disease prediction, and surgical assistance. These applications help reduce administrative burdens and improve healthcare efficiency. However, AI cannot replace the empathy and interpersonal communication skills of healthcare professionals, and should therefore be viewed as a supportive tool rather than a replacement. The shortage of nursing staff has been exacerbated by factors such as an aging population, declining birth rates, work hour pressures, and inadequate compensation. This shortage negatively impacts patient safety and the quality of care. In response, many countries have begun to introduce foreign healthcare workers and adopt AI-assisted technologies to improve working conditions and address the nursing workforce gap. Despite its potential, the integration of AI into healthcare still faces challenges related to regulations, costs, and ethics. Addressing these issues requires collaborative efforts from governments and various stakeholders to establish clear policies, enhance training and education, and strengthen digital infrastructure. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve a harmonious integration of AI in healthcare that supports sustainable and high-quality care.