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A dozen Montefiore nurses in the Bronx are being pushed out by AI, union says
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Jul 1, 2026
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By
Caroline Lewis
Published Jul 1, 2026
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A dozen nurses at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx have received notices saying their positions were being eliminated, and their union’s blaming artificial intelligence — claims a hospital spokesperson called “inaccurate and misleading.”
Representatives of the New York State Nurses Association said at a press conference that the union had filed a grievance over the notices, contending that Montefiore’s actions constitute a breach of their labor agreement.
The hospital system disputed the union’s claims, without going into detail.
"As is often the case, the claims by NYSNA are inaccurate and misleading,” Joe Solomonese, a spokesperson for Montefiore, said in a statement. “What is true is that we are always investing in new technology to ensure the best care and outcomes for our patients and will continue to do so for the betterment of the people we serve."
Concerns that AI will replace healthcare jobs were a major issue raised during the nurses strike at Montefiore and other New York City hospitals earlier this year. AI is becoming increasingly common in healthcare, and is used for purposes that include taking notes during patient encounters and aiding in diagnostics.
The nurses who received the notices from Montefiore all work in utilization review, according to the NYSNA, which said the notices went out in May.
Utilization review involves justifying to patients’ insurance providers that the services they’re receiving are medically necessary and ensuring the services are covered.
The nurses said Montefiore changed its utilization review process earlier this year to make it more heavily automated, using AI-powered software they said was provided by the company Datavant.
“ Our patient population deserves better than this,” Montefiore nurse Ajita Mathew said, adding that it’s still unclear to nurses how the technology is affecting the rate of insurance payment denials.
But Montefiore did not confirm that layoff notices were sent out or that its utilization review process had changed. It did not respond to questions about its contracts with Datavant.
NYSNA released a copy of one of the letters a nurse received and said it was similar to the others nurses received.
“I deeply regret to inform you that your position will be eliminated 45 days from the date of this letter,” states the notice, dated May 28.
The letter, signed by Shalesia Sookra, an employee and labor relations manager at Montefiore, states that the hospital system will use the 45-day window to determine whether other suitable positions are available within the health system.
The contract NYSNA reached with Montefiore following this year’s strike includes language stating that if the use of AI results in the “diminishment” of union jobs, hospital management must meet with the union to discuss a way to avoid that outcome.
NYSNA filed a class-action grievance with Montefiore on June 1, alleging that the hospital system violated its contract by failing to meet with the union before sending out notices about nurses’ jobs being eliminated. A copy of the grievance was shared with Gothamist.
Several local elected officials were present at Wednesday’s virtual press conference and echoed NYSNA’s concerns.
“ I'm certainly not against technology,” said Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, a Democrat representing the Bronx. “But we have to be very strong in making sure that new technology is not abused and is not used as a tool to cut costs, cut patient care.”
Union representatives are calling on Montefiore to halt the 45-day timeline for eliminating the nursing positions, which ends July 12, and to meet with NYSNA to discuss alternatives.
Tagged
Health and Science
bronx
healthcare
montefiore
Caroline Lewis
Caroline Lewis is on the health care beat for WNYC and Gothamist. She has covered COVID, a nurses' strike, the overdose crisis and New York’s marijuana legalization effort, and spent a year investigating patients' medical bills. She always wants to hear about how everyday New Yorkers experience the health system. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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