One of the primary use cases for artificial intelligence in healthcare—particularly emerging capabilities in generative AI—is within the physician documentation space. The tools target a core area of focus for Leading Health Systems (LHS)—clinician burnout and efficiency—while representing a fairly low risk for patient safety and quality concerns. It’s no surprise, then, that in a recent survey, 100% of responding LHS leaders reported they were either actively implementing AI-based clinical documentation and messaging tools (57%) or were interested in doing so (43%). However, concerns about the tools’ cost continue to cause investment hesitation.

In this brief, we examine the use of AI-powered physician documentation tools, drawing on the experience of current users to provide insights on both best-practice utilization and potential return on investment (ROI). Although AI can provide support for numerous documentation-related tasks within the EHR (e.g., inbox management, information retrieval, etc.), we focus specifically on ambient listening and note-creation tools used in the ambulatory space.

Disclaimer: The information in this brief is current at the time of its writing (Fall 2023). However, AI technology is evolving very quickly, and LHS experiences may change. For the most up-to-date information about LHS profiled in this brief, please reach out directly using the contact information provided.