Session 203

Wednesday, September 16, 2026  ~  1:30 - 2:30 p.m. (CDT)

1.2 CNEs

Unlocking the Emerald City of AI: Innovation with Compassion

Description

Artificial intelligence can amplify clinical excellence without diminishing care provider-patient human connections, when correctly implemented. Practical AI applications such as risk stratification, natural language documentation tools, remote monitoring algorithms, and decision‑support systems streamline workflows, reduce clinician burden, and improve symptom management. Equally important, the session integrates practical and ethical considerations: algorithmic bias, data privacy, depersonalization of care, and the risk of substituting empathy with automation. Utilizing a framework approach for evaluating AI tools against compassion‑centered criteria: transparency, explainability, equity, clinician empowerment, and patient dignity.  It supports leaders and clinicians with actionable strategies for a balanced AI adoption.

Interactive segments will invite participants to apply the framework to real scenarios, balancing efficiency gains with safeguards that protect vulnerable populations. By the end of the hour, clinicians, administrators, and policymakers will leave with a pragmatic roadmap to harness AI’s potential while safeguarding the core human values of palliative and home‑based care. The presentation provides practical tools, and evaluation resources for ongoing education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and measurement approaches which track meaningful key indices such as clinical outcomes, financial measures, and patient‑reported experience to ensure innovation is balanced with compassion meaningfully over time.

Target Audience

Leadership, Home Health, Homecare, and/or Hospice administrators, directors, financial officers, and clinical managers

Speaker(s)

Raianne Melton, RN, BSN, CHPN Senior Director of Clinical Services, Professional Services, Axxess, Dallas, TX                                                                     Raianne Melton is the Senior Director of Clinical Services of Professional Services for Axxess, the fastest-growing home healthcare technology company. In this role, she serves as a content expert in hospice and palliative care, assisting in the creation of training and certification courses for these specialties. Raianne provides operational support for Axxess’s CAHPS Solution and is a ANCC Lead Nurse Planner. As a member of the Alliance Education Work Group and the Alliance Emerging Models and Care Innovation Work Group, she contributes subject matter expertise.  As a member of the Alliance Grassroots Ambassador program, Raianne advocates for polices that support care at home for millions of Americans.

Andrew Awoniyi, ND, RN, NI-BC Vice President Patient Engagement and Analytics, Professional Services, Axxess, Dallas, TX                                                                     Andrew Awoniyi has transformed the way care at home organizations monitor and address patient experience. As the vice president of Axxess’ Patient Engagement team, Andrew has developed and implemented a groundbreaking Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) solution that enables care at home organizations to closely monitor and analyze patient experience and other quality scores in real time as Axxess captures the data. Andrew has spent more than 30 years in the health industry, specializing in health informatics, administration, chronic disease management, and home-based care. In addition to being a registered nurse (RN), he holds a doctorate in nursing and is board certified in nursing informatics.

Continuing Education

Kansas Home Care & Hospice Association is approved as a provider of CNE by the Kansas State Board of Nursing. This course offering is approved for 1.2 contact hours applicable for APRN, RN, or LPN relicensure. Kansas State Board of Nursing provider number: LT0287-0314. 

Other disciplines will need to apply independently – a certificate of attendance for 1.0 CE hours will be provided.