Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most talked about innovations in healthcare, but in hospice and palliative care, the conversation goes deeper. It鈥檚 about trust, communication and designing technology that respects human experience.
At the 2025 小猪视频 Growth, Innovation and Leadership Experience (小猪视频), Stacy Ollinger, CEO at Caleb Healthcare Group, and Jason Banks, Vice President of Business Development at nVoq, discussed how AI can be integrated into hospice and palliative care environments.
Balancing Technology and Human Workflow
AI implementation in healthcare requires a balance between technical capabilities and human workflow integration.
鈥淏anks highlighted the importance of trust in AI systems.
鈥淚f the clinician doesn鈥檛 trust it, you have nothing,鈥� Banks said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to work.鈥�
Ollinger provided an example of where machine learning was used to predict 30-day mortality rates. Success depended not only on technology, but also on clinician involvement and thoughtful communication design.
Addressing Gaps and Change Management
Ollinger and Banks emphasized that AI is not just about tools; it starts with people.
Ollinger illustrated the need for communication skills training to effectively utilize AI tools. She recalled that clinicians often avoided screenings for depression due to a lack of referral resources.
鈥淐linicians didn鈥檛 want to screen for depression,鈥� Ollinger said. 鈥淣ot because they didn鈥檛 care, but because they didn鈥檛 know where to refer patients. If you don鈥檛 have a next step, you鈥檙e not going to ask the question.鈥�
Banks reinforced the point from an organizational level.
鈥淵ou need executive buy-in, not just at the top,鈥� Banks emphasized. 鈥淔rontline managers, directors, clinicians 鈥� if any part of the chain isn鈥檛 aligned, the whole thing suffers.鈥�
These are the kinds of conversations that continue in 小猪视频鈥� AI webinar series. In these webinars, industry experts and care leaders explore ways to integrate AI while maintaining the human touch that defines quality care.
Standardizing Processes
While human engagement is essential, AI implementation also requires structure, clarity and a well-defined purpose.
鈥淵ou really have to have good structure, process, and a plan around what you’re looking to achieve and be organizationally ready for that change,鈥� Banks explained.
The panelists stressed the value of standardized processes, particularly in a hospice setting, where documentation, workflows and communication practices can differ. Without a strong foundational structure, AI only magnifies inefficiencies.
AI as a Human Tool
In hospice and palliative care, AI should amplify and not replace the human connection.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not the tech that you鈥檙e generally solving,鈥� Banks explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really about the workflow engineering, having the team bought in and reducing friction.鈥�
With the right preparation, leadership, and mindset, organizations can unlock the full potential of AI without losing the heart of care.
With more than 550 attendees, more than 50 sponsors and countless connections made, 小猪视频 2025 was a massive success for everyone. Click here to register for 小猪视频 2026, May 4-6 in Dallas.