By Christina Bach, MBE, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, and Rosie Nagy, MSHI, LCSW, OSW-C

What is AI?

From ChatGPT, “AI, or artificial intelligence, is the creation of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, or making decisions. It involves programming computers to mimic cognitive functions like learning and problem-solving, enabling them to adapt and improve over time without explicit programming for every scenario.”

To put it simply, AI allows us to utilize technology to ask questions, problem solve, get ideas and inspiration, formalize and organize writing and teaching materials and supporting clinical decision making.

Many medical facilities are integrating AI into various spaces across the healthcare continuum. From the lab to the bedside, there are opportunities to apply AI to improve patient experience and medical care.

How can I use AI?

We bet you are using AI and you didn’t even know it. Did you know that in PowerPoint, every time you chose “design,” the software is giving you options based on data you have already put in? It helps to make your slides more visually appealing, formatting our content in ways that are more approachable for our audience. This enhances our presentations and teaching opportunities.

There are many platforms where you can try out AI. We recommend starting with ChatGPT. This is a free source software and app (you can purchase an enhanced version). Try this:

You have five ingredients in your refrigerator, but don’t know what to make for dinner.  You can ask ChatGPT to give you a recipe using those five ingredients! Voila, dinner!

Let’s apply this to oncology social work. We used ChatGPT to ask the question: “give me resources for women with breast cancer.”  ChatGPT produced the following:

“Certainly! Here are some resources for women with breast cancer:

1. American Cancer Society (ACS): The ACS provides a wealth of information and support for individuals affected by breast cancer, including treatment options, support groups, and resources for managing side effects. Visit their website at cancer.org or call their helpline at 1-800-227-2345.
2. National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF): NBCF offers comprehensive resources for breast cancer patients, including educational materials, assistance programs for uninsured individuals, and support services. Their website is nationalbreastcancer.org.
3. Susan G. Komen: Susan G. Komen is one of the largest breast cancer organizations globally, providing resources for education, screening, treatment, and support. Visit their website at komen.org for information on programs and support groups.
4. BreastCancer.org: This website offers a vast array of resources, including information on diagnosis, treatment options, clinical trials, and survivorship. It also hosts active discussion forums where individuals can connect with others going through similar experiences.
5. Local Support Groups and Hospitals: Many local hospitals and cancer centers offer support groups specifically for breast cancer patients. These groups can provide invaluable emotional support, practical advice, and camaraderie. Check with your local hospital or cancer center for information on support groups in your area.
6. Online Communities: Online communities such as Inspire or the Breast Cancer Support Community provide platforms for individuals to connect with others facing similar challenges, share experiences, and offer support.

Remember, each person’s experience with breast cancer is unique, so it’s important to find the resources and support that best fit your individual needs.”

You can drill down even further-asking ChatGPT for breast cancer resources in your geographic area. As you can see, this provides a bit more descriptive information than a simple Google search, but also is missing some contact information and hyperlinks to these organizations.

Grammarly is another free software that can help us be better writers. Using AI, Grammarly scans writing for spelling, syntax and readability. The paid version offers more advanced options.

Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Canva uses AI to make recommendations for designs including colors, fonts, branding, layout, and images.

Finally, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which are owned by Meta, have integrated MetaAI into their search engine to find anything across their platforms; from people, to places, to restaurant reviews. TikTok and CapCut use AI to produce templates for vlogs and other video content.

What does this mean for OSWs?
The use of AI in social work will depend on where you are working. Social workers may use AI for data analysis and machine learning. This can help us to understand patterns, risks, behaviors and trends we see in populations. Machine learning can also help us to provide more individualized care and gives us decision support tools to guide clinical practices. We may want to use AI to help us construct resource guides, improve our communication with patients/team members, and for fun.

We do not recommend using AI to write your progress notes or handle other sensitive, confidential patient information. AI is objective. Our work also includes the subjective. We can’t teach machines how to feel and be empathic when clients are in need. Nor can we teach them to convey this in our communications. Also, be sure to check with your institution regarding rules and regulations about the use of AI, particularly regarding its interface with the EMR.

We challenge you to spend some time with AI rather than run in fear from the unknown. Maybe share your ChatGPT recipes and we can make an OSW ChatGPT cookbook!

What has your experience with AI been?