Nurses union protests HCA Healthcare's use of Palantir AI system

Nurses rallied in downtown Asheville on Thursday, Aug. 27, calling on HCA Healthcare to stop using an artificial intelligence system they say affects staffing, privacy and patient care. (Photo: WLOS Staff)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Nurses rallied in downtown Asheville on Thursday, Aug. 27, calling on HCA Healthcare to stop using an artificial intelligence system they say affects staffing, privacy and patient care.

Members of the National Nurses Union gathered in Pack Square to protest the use of a technology called Palantir. Protesters said the system has been used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify people for deportation. They also said HCA uses the system to schedule nurses, rather than having schedules set locally by staff.

Union members said the technology compromises privacy and patient care.

“Throughout HCA's system, they have formulated an A.I. nurse scheduling program that has led to big issues in not properly staffing the hospital, and not having the right mix of nurses at the hospital,” said Hannah Drummond, a chief nurse representative for the National Nurses Union.

The Asheville protest was one of eight held across the country by the National Nurses Union.