Despite going into medicine to care for patients, physicians today are too often tethered to their computers. According to PubMed, they spend nearly six hours every day on EHR and desk work, with 1.4 hours of that being spent after hours at home. Having to consistently partake in pajama time takes physicians away from spending time with their families and relaxing after what are already long days.

While the proliferation of technology has impacted the provider-patient relationship, breakthrough innovations have yet to restore the human side of healthcare between physicians and patients. Cue the AI medical scribe.

In this article we will discuss what an AI medical scribe is, the benefits of using one, and some key features to look for when purchasing one.

What is an AI Medical Scribe?

An AI medical scribe is an advanced software tool designed to assist healthcare providers in documenting their patient interactions. It records and transcribes patient interactions, formats the conversation into a concise summary, and can even automatically fill out medical forms.

Unlike a traditional human scribe, AI medical scribes leverage ambient listening and large language models to transcribe medical conversations in real-time, having them available immediately at the end of the appointment. This redirects clinicians' full attention to their patients, creates a more streamlined documentation process, and enhances the accuracy of medical records.

Benefits of an AI Medical Scribe

Increased Efficiency

AI medical scribes allow clinicians to see more patients in less time, reduce the number of notation errors, capture more information during the appointment, and automatically provide coding recommendations based on the conversation.

Reduction in Burnout

A staggering 49% of physicians said they were burnt out with 62% highlighting the number one cause as having too many bureaucratic tasks, according to a report by Medscape. Physicians' lives are already stressful enough while in the office; having to come home to hours of documentation work everyday only adds to this burnout. Utilizing an AI medical scribe practically eliminates pajama time, allowing physicians to actually relax and spend time with their families when they come home from work.

Cost Savings and Revenue Generation

Implementing an AI medical scribe can lead to both significant cost savings and an overall increase in revenue. Practices can save money on operating costs by eliminating the need for in-person scribes. Additionally, fully-featured AI medical scribes can provide coding recommendations and fill out necessary forms (such as SOAP, Denial Appeal, PHQ-9, and more) based on patient-provider conversations. This generates revenue for the practice through more accurate billing and allows physicians to see more patients throughout the day instead of spending time on documentation.

Enhanced Patient Experience

With AI medical scribes, doctors can untether themselves from the EHR and computer, and dedicate more quality facetime to their patients instead. Rather than staring at their computer screen typing down notes throughout the appointment, physicians can focus solely on the conversation, restoring the relationship that so many physicians feel technology has detracted from over the years. An AI medical scribe acts as an invisible technology working behind the scenes, creating a better experience for both patients and providers alike.

Key Features to Look for in an AI Medical Scribe

In recent years, AI medical scribes have been taking the industry by storm, but not all scribes offer the necessary tooling to truly transform your practice. When evaluating an AI medical scribe, be sure it has the following key features:

Integrations with EHRs: Seamlessly integrates with electronic health records, ensuring efficient data transfer and streamlined workflows.

Customizable Templates and Rules: Utilizes robust and naturally structured outputs leading to more complete documentation formatting. Being able to automatically turn recordings into filled out medical forms is a must.

Coding Recommendations: Automatically recommends codes to include or leave out, reducing the chance of under or overcoding.

Transcription Translation: Automatically translates conversations into different languages with support for dialects and accents to aid in breaking down barriers to healthcare.

Constantly Evolving AI: Incorporates large language models (LLMs) that continuously enhance their performance with each use to reduce denial rates and provide more accurate documentation. The overall quality of clinical notes provided should be the top priority.

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Looking for an AI medical scribe that offers all of these features and more? Athelas Scribe was designed from the ground up to offer the most cutting edge tech stack available. From automated documentation to custom tailored templates/coding recommendations, Scribe sets the bar for what clinicians need in today’s fast paced healthcare landscape. Let AI handle the busy work, learn more about Athelas Scribe here.