How Epic is using AI to change the way EHRs work
Epic's AI integration in EHRs is enhancing healthcare IT, improving patient-provider interactions, and streamlining medical coding.
Epic, a leading electronic health records company, explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in healthcare IT. Sumit Rana, Executive Vice President of Research and Development, is driving this, orchestrating the integration of AI and ambient listening technology to refine patient-provider interactions.
Revolutionising Patient-Provider Conversations with AI
Epic's use of AI is reshaping the landscape of patient-provider interactions. The technology is breaking new ground by enabling physicians to generate progress notes from conversations in the exam room. This AI-driven approach allows doctors to instantly draft responses to patient queries, offering a glimpse into the patient's history since their last visit. The impact of this technology is profound, with one site reporting a staggering 76% reduction in time spent by doctors after clinical hours and over 60% of users noting an increase in documentation quality.
The Skeptical Optimist's View on AI Reliability
Rana, a self-proclaimed 'sceptical optimist', addresses concerns about the reliability of these technologies. He emphasises the importance of keeping the physician in the loop, ensuring that AI tools do not entirely automate the process. The focus is on enhancing user experience by making it clear when and how AI is involved and providing sufficient auditing and monitoring data for tracking AI use and associated outcomes.
Empathy and Efficiency: AI's Dual Role in Healthcare
Interestingly, AI in healthcare is not just about efficiency. It's also about empathy. Rana shares an anecdote where AI, in drafting a response to a patient, included empathetic remarks that a busy physician might overlook. This aspect of AI, enhancing the human connection between patient and provider, is a testament to the technology's potential to bring more warmth and understanding into healthcare interactions.
AI's Role in Streamlining Medical Coding
Looking at the administrative side, Epic's AI is set to revolutionise medical coding. AI is poised to make the coding workflow more efficient and reduce administrative overhead for healthcare organisations by suggesting potential procedure and diagnosis codes based on clinical documentation. This development is still in the testing phase, but early results show promising efficiency improvements.
Epic's integration of AI into electronic health records marks a significant milestone in healthcare IT. It's a journey towards more empathetic, efficient, and effective patient care driven by technological innovation. As this technology continues to evolve, it promises to reshape healthcare delivery for the better.
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Epic's integration of AI into electronic health records is a case study in the application of technology in healthcare. It exemplifies how AI can be used for automation and to enhance the quality of human interactions in a professional setting. This development in healthcare IT could serve as a model for educational technology, where AI might be used to personalise learning experiences while retaining the essential human element in education.