The University of Texas System announced it is expanding its partnership with clinical AI company Abridge in an Oct. 8 news release. This partnership allows the UT System’s eight health institutions to access AI tools designed to reduce physicians’ workloads.
Abridge uses a form of ambient technology, or a series of digital systems and devices that blend quietly into the physical environment, to speed up administrative work for physicians, said Edward Sankary, vice president, chief health informatics officer and chief value officer at UT Health San Antonio. This new change introduces the use of in-room microphones for physicians to record, transcribe and document a typical patient note.
“[Physicians] don’t have to do the part of actually being a transcriptionist, (the AI can) reduce some of the stress on the physician, and the physician’s burden and ultimately burnout,” Sankary said. Sankary is also a part of the Steering Committee for REAL Health AI, a University of Texas System initiative to incorporate AI into health.
Sankary and his colleagues track the time saved when using Abridge to write a patient note. Currently, effort reduction is around 80 percent, meaning that physicians spend 80% less time on a note when they use the AI technology, Sankary said.
“‘Why isn’t it 100%?’ Because we still want people reviewing those notes,” Sankary said. “There’s still a human in the middle. It’s not autonomous, and there has to be some review, some correction; ultimately, feedback to Abridge if we feel that the platform is missing something for our specialty.”
As the intersection between AI, technology and health increases, Sankary anticipates more accurate results and higher efficiency in the health care industry.
“As we deploy these technologies, we’re going to, on the clinical side, improve our quality of care, and we’re going to ease the (electronic health record) burden on clinicians, so that they can spend more time with patients, which is a key thing,” Sankary said.
Though, there are still hesitations regarding reliance on AI.
Biochemistry and sociology senior Kyle Chastain works as a patient care technician. He said increased efficiency does not necessarily translate to better patient experiences.
“I’m hopeful about tools that could reduce administrative work and give clinicians more time to connect with patients,” Chastain said. “But, I want to know whether that technology actually improves the experience for patients and clinicians, how accuracy is checked and how patients are informed about its use.”
