The screens at the Davis Global Center and iEXCEL bring a UNMC College of Nursing researcher and innovator’s work to life as a hologram.
Marcia Shade, PhD, associate professor at the UNMC College of Nursing, and her and her team’s project, PainChat© is featured as part of a series of interactive holographic projections at the center to promote an initiative that establishes Nebraska as a leader in shaping the future of AI. The three-minute clip of Dr. Shade sees her describe her project and demonstrate how it works.
PainChat©, as Dr. Shade describes, used “conversational AI to talk with patients in real-time, helping them describe their pain in a natural way.”
“Right now, almost a quarter of adults in the U.S. live with chronic pain, and it only becomes more common as we age,” she said. “(P)ain often goes unnoticed or untreated, which can lead to distress.”
“That’s why we’re developing new AI tools help capture the full context of the pain experience.”
After a description of the technology, Shade walks through opening the app, pressing the chat button and communicating with the AI. As she shares her pain concerns, the AI voice reacts and asks additional questions to get as many details as possible.
“The goal is simple: catch pain earlier, give more objective data driven insights and, ultimately, improve the quality of life for patients who need it most,” she says towards the conclusion of the presentation.
In a separate interview, Shade said she’s honored to have her and her team’s work featured alongside local pioneers in AI and technology, all of which are dedicated towards bettering healthcare in the state and across the country.
“It is important to show that we can use smart technologies to help us in different areas of health care. It is also important for people to understand that change and innovation are necessary,” she said. “Think about it, we don’t have to call the operator to connect our lines to talk to people we have cell phones.
“We have to evolve, and it is important to support those forward thinkers who are trying to do so safely and passionately.”
Furthermore, Dr. Shade said she’s pleased that it gives her a chance to showcase the advancement of nursing and the dedication of those in the nursing field.
“It has huge meaning for me because it is showcasing the innovative work being done by nurses,” she said. “We are more than what is portrayed in the media, movies and TV shows. We are smart thinkers, problem solvers, and on top of being health care providers, we are change agents.”