Health care assistants

10.4%

ADI · 357th of 433 · 95% interval 2.6–20.1

An AI agent can at least partly carry out 10.4% of the task time of health care assistants, and finish 0.0% alone. The barrier that holds most of the rest back is access to the systems the work runs on.

ADI · partial or full10.4%

357th of 433 · interval 2.6–20.1

ADI3 · full delegation0.0%

201st of 433 · interval 0.0–0.0

ADIs · share of time13.4%

376th of 433 · interval 9.5–17.9

Evidence50

task statements rated by two models and weighted by importance and frequency. World employment: 8.8 million.

Task weight by level

How the tasks rate

66%

24%

10%

L0No meaningful role · 66.0%L1Augmentation · 23.6%L2Partial delegation · 10.4%L3Full delegation · 0.0%

Barriers

What stops the agent

Physical presence

96%

Accountability

39%

Trust and care

82%

Access to systems

63%

Share of task weight flagged by each barrier; a task can carry several.

50 task statements, heaviest first

Task statement (O*NET occupation)			Sonnet · Haiku			Barriers
Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.Psychiatric Aides	3.7%	L1	L1L1	10%	30 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.Psychiatric Aides	3.6%	L1	L1L1	12%	38 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Provide patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.Psychiatric Aides	3.5%	L0	L0L1	6%	4.3 h	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.Psychiatric Aides	3.3%	L0	L0L0	6%	38 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.Psychiatric Aides	3.3%	L0	L0L1	10%	4.5 h	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.Psychiatric Aides	3.2%	L2	L2L2	48%	20 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.Psychiatric Aides	3.1%	L1	L1L1	14%	1.0 h	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Complete administrative tasks, such as entering orders into computer, answering telephone calls, or maintaining medical or facility information.Psychiatric Aides	3.0%	L2	L2L2	60%	15 min	Access to systems
Perform nursing duties, such as administering medications, measuring vital signs, collecting specimens, or drawing blood samples.Psychiatric Aides · supplemental task	2.9%	L0	L0L1	8%	18 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Serve meals or feed patients needing assistance or persuasion.Psychiatric Aides	2.8%	L0	L0L0	3%	35 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Clean and disinfect rooms and furnishings to maintain a safe and orderly environment.Psychiatric Aides	2.8%	L0	L0L0	4%	38 min	Physical presence, Access to systems
Aid patients in becoming accustomed to hospital routines.Psychiatric Aides	2.7%	L0	L0L1	6%	38 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary.Psychiatric Aides	2.7%	L0	L0L0	2%	25 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.Psychiatric Aides	2.6%	L0	L0L0	4%	18 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Participate in recreational activities with patients, including card games, sports, or television viewing.Psychiatric Aides	2.5%	L0	L0L0	4%	52 min	Physical presence, Trust and care

Show the other 35 tasks

Task statement (O*NET occupation)			Sonnet · Haiku			Barriers
Interview patients upon admission and record information.Psychiatric Aides · supplemental task	2.5%	L1	L1L1	28%	38 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.Nursing Assistants	2.1%	L0	L1L0	12%	4 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Accompany patients to and from wards for medical or dental treatments, shopping trips, or religious or recreational events.Psychiatric Aides	2.0%	L0	L0L0	4%	45 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Turn or reposition bedridden patients.Nursing Assistants	1.9%	L0	L0L0	4%	10 min	Physical presence, Trust and care
Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.Nursing Assistants	1.8%	L0	L0L0	2%	22 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.Nursing Assistants	1.8%	L0	L0L0	4%	25 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.Nursing Assistants	1.8%	L1	L1L1	22%	10 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.Nursing Assistants	1.7%	L1	L1L2	22%	12 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.Nursing Assistants	1.7%	L1	L1L2	30%	8 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.Nursing Assistants	1.7%	L0	L0L0	2%	8 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.Nursing Assistants	1.7%	L0	L0L0	4%	9 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.Nursing Assistants	1.7%	L0	L0L0	2%	28 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care
Prepare or serve food trays.Nursing Assistants	1.7%	L0	L0L1	10%	25 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.Nursing Assistants	1.6%	L2	L2L2	42%	8 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.Nursing Assistants	1.6%	L0	L0L0	5%	8 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.Nursing Assistants	1.6%	L2	L2L2	50%	12 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Change bed linens or make beds.Nursing Assistants	1.6%	L0	L0L0	4%	9 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.Nursing Assistants	1.6%	L0	L0L0	2%	22 min	Physical presence, Trust and care
Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.Nursing Assistants · supplemental task	1.5%	L0	L0L0	4%	10 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.Nursing Assistants	1.5%	L1	L1L2	32%	12 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.Nursing Assistants	1.5%	L1	L1L1	15%	5 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Set up treating or testing equipment, such as oxygen tents, portable radiograph (x-ray) equipment, or overhead irrigation bottles, as directed by a physician or nurse.Nursing Assistants · supplemental task	1.5%	L0	L0L0	4%	15 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.Nursing Assistants	1.5%	L0	L0L0	4%	2.3 h	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.Nursing Assistants	1.5%	L0	L0L0	4%	12 min	Physical presence, Access to systems
Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.Nursing Assistants	1.4%	L0	L0L0	4%	28 min	Physical presence, Access to systems
Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.Nursing Assistants · supplemental task	1.4%	L0	L0L1	6%	18 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.Nursing Assistants	1.4%	L0	L0L0	5%	20 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.Nursing Assistants	1.3%	L0	L0L0	4%	20 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.Nursing Assistants · supplemental task	1.3%	L1	L1L2	25%	20 min	Physical presence, Access to systems
Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.Nursing Assistants · supplemental task	1.2%	L0	L0L0	4%	10 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Explain medical instructions to patients or family members.Nursing Assistants · supplemental task	1.2%	L1	L1L2	32%	12 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Record height or weight of patients.Nursing Assistants	1.1%	L0	L1L0	10%	5 min	Physical presence, Trust and care, Access to systems
Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.Nursing Assistants	1.0%	L2	L2L2	55%	4 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems
Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.Nursing Assistants · supplemental task	1.0%	L0	L0L2	18%	22 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems
Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.Nursing Assistants	1.0%	L0	L0L0	5%	12 min	Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems

Level: consensus of the two models (the lower level when they disagree). Share: part of the task’s working time an agent could take over. Human time: minutes a competent person needs for one instance, as estimated by the models.

Against other measures

Exposure is not delegation

Measure	Value	Pct
ADI (this index)	10.4%	18
Eloundou et al. (2024), GPT exposure β	0.134	24
Felten et al. (2021), AI occupational exposure	-0.7	33
Webb (2020), AI patent exposure	26	18
Eisfeldt et al. (2026), generative AI exposure	0.059	27
Anthropic Economic Index, observed use	0	16

Earlier indices measure whether AI can touch a task; ADI measures how much of it an agent can carry out from a goal. – : the source does not cover this occupation.

Same sub-major group (53)

Neighbouring occupations

Occupation	ADI	%
Home-based personal care workers 5322		24.3
Child care workers 5311		23.0
Personal care workers in health services not elsewhere classified 5329		21.3
Teachers’ aides 5312		19.5

Dashed line: health care assistants (10.4%).

Cite this record

Text

Espinal Maya, Cristian, and Santiago Jiménez Londoño. 2026. ADI v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and MCP server. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918. Record: Health care assistants (ISCO-08 5321), https://balamlabs.org/adi/occupations/5321

BibTeX

@misc{espinal2026adidata,
  title     = {{ADI} v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and {MCP} server},
  author    = {Espinal Maya, Cristian and Jim{\'e}nez Londo{\~n}o, Santiago},
  year      = {2026},
  publisher = {Zenodo},
  version   = {v2026.1},
  doi       = {10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
  url       = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
  note      = {Record: Health care assistants (ISCO-08 5321)}
}

Machine-readable

The same record as static JSON, with its citation: /adi/v2026.1/isco/5321.json.

Compare with another occupation How it is measured