Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago identified that its healthcare providers were overwhelmed by administrative tasks. The organization aimed to equip its team with technology that would allow them to focus more on patient care.
Identifying the Challenge
By reducing the time spent on charting and documentation, Rush hoped that staff could enhance their interactions with patients, manage their workloads more effectively, and ultimately improve the quality of care.
Proposed Solution
To tackle these challenges, Rush partnered with Suki, a vendor specializing in artificial intelligence technology. This solution aims to combat burnout, a significant factor contributing to physician shortages. The technology employs ambient listening and generative AI to streamline documentation.
Briana Rygg, Chief Applications Officer at Rush, stated, “We know physicians and APPs spend dozens of hours per week on administrative tasks like charting, leading to feelings of being overworked.”
The ambient AI system generates draft clinical notes that clinicians review before finalizing them in the electronic health record (EHR), allowing them to concentrate more on patient care rather than documentation.
Addressing the Challenge
Rush required an ambient AI system that would integrate smoothly with its Epic EHR to avoid disrupting workflows. Rygg emphasized the need for a tool that could cater to various specialties and support multiple languages to accommodate the diverse Chicago population.
Results from the Pilot Program
In the summer of 2024, Rush conducted a pilot of the Suki system, yielding notable outcomes:
- 74% of clinicians reported reduced burnout levels.
- 95% expressed a desire to continue using the technology.
- Clinicians utilized 25 non-English languages, with 35% of providers conducting Spanish visits in one month.
Rygg noted, “The technology has decreased cognitive load, allowing clinicians to focus on patient care and leading to more accurate documentation.”
Advice for Other Healthcare Organizations
Rygg advised other healthcare organizations considering AI technology to:
- Clearly define the problem they aim to solve.
- Establish requirements before selecting a system.
- Engage operational sponsors to ensure the project is not solely an IT initiative.
She emphasized the importance of training and understanding the technology among providers and support staff to ensure comfort and effectiveness.
For more insights, follow Bill Siwicki on LinkedIn: Bill Siwicki
Email: bsiwicki@himss.org
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