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‘Thank God they’re still alive’: Kaiser therapists claim its new screening system puts patients at higher risk by delaying their care
- A one-day strike by Kaiser Northern California mental health workers protested new screening processes that involve clerical staff and scripted questions before seeing a licensed clinician.
- Therapists say the new system delays care for high-risk patients while faster appointments are given to lower-risk cases, worsening access to urgent services.
- NUHW says the screening uses an algorithm to generate triage guidance, potentially violating state law, a claim Kaiser denies.
- Kaiser counters that AI and clerical staff do not conduct clinical assessments and that clinicians remain responsible for triage decisions.
- The dispute follows a history of external scrutiny and settlements related to delays in Kaiser’s mental health services, including 2023 and 2024 actions.
- Staff worry about AI tools replacing licensed therapists, even as Kaiser says it is expanding its workforce where needed.
- NUHW cites internal surveys showing many workers fear AI or new technologies could affect care and jobs, with concerns about data retention and transparency.
- Healthcare workers assert that triage requires licensed professionals to evaluate danger and safety plans, not just scripted questions.
- Kaiser reports it provides non-urgent mental health appointments faster than state requirements, despite patient care concerns.
- The strike highlights broader debates about AI in healthcare and the balance between efficiency and personal care in Kaiser’s system.
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