New York hospital lays off 12 nurses once they found out a computer with AI had another option

• Montefiore Medical Center laid off 12 utilization review nurses after implementing AI-powered software provided by Datavant.
• The decision sparked criticism from the NYSNA union, which points to a violation of the contract signed after a recent strike with protections against AI.
• Affected nurses warn about risks to patient care quality, as the AI lacks the necessary clinical experience.

The implementation of new technologies in hospital environments sparked a wave of indignation after confirmation that the Montefiore Medical Center, located in the Bronx, New York, proceeded with the layoff of 12 specialized nurses to integrate an artificial intelligence (AI) program into their daily tasks; this staff, who spent decades examining patient records to validate the medical necessity of treatments to insurers, saw their roles replaced by software from the company Datavant.

The software was supposedly designed to streamline administrative processes, although the implications of this automation appear to extend far beyond simple bureaucracy. Most alarmingly, this move occurred shortly after the city’s nursing guild secured a three-year contract following a massive strike, an agreement that included explicit clauses to protect their jobs against the excessive advance of technological automation.

The fight for quality and clinical experience

In this regard, members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) expressed deep outrage, arguing that replacing dedicated professionals with AI algorithms not only violates recently won labor agreements but also seriously compromises the safety of patients receiving care at the medical center. Marilyn Shuler, one of the nurses affected by this cut and layoff, noted that her daily work involved complex discussions regarding medication changes and discharge planning.

A New York hospital just replaced 12 nurses with AI. The layoffs are raising serious questions about what happens when cost-cutting collides with patient care.

The union says the hospital violated a contract won after a major nurses’ strike earlier this year. Nurses argue AI… pic.twitter.com/SLffip7CY9

— Link Technologies (@LinkTechnlogies) July 13, 2026

These functions require a sensitivity and human judgment that artificial intelligence simply cannot replicate effectively; while hospital representatives deny the accusations, labeling them inaccurate and maintaining that their investment in AI technology seeks to ensure the best possible outcomes, the union maintains a firm stance regarding the dangers of using technology without sufficient clinical evidence to support its efficacy in areas as sensitive as medical care.