Roundup: AI helps health systems achieve goals as developers push innovation

Doctors are finding more time for patients each week at John Muir Health, according to its Epic electronic health record data. The EHR metrics also show a decrease in after-hours time spent entering clinical notes, Ambience, the health system’s partner on artificial intelligence-driven clinical documentation and care coordination, said. 

Also this week we are highlighting a new partnership that aims to push the development of AI to achieve autonomous operations in command centers by starting with the healthcare sector and new releases from AdvancedMD. The practice management and EHR vendor has rolled out a suite of new features designed to improve clinical workflows, simplify administrative tasks and enhance patient interactions, the company said.

Moving the needle on burnout

Since John Muir Health has rolled out Epic-integrated artificial intelligence technology across its facilities, more than 65% of JMH clinicians across 15 specialties have been using the platform before, during and after patient encounters, the vendor Ambience said in its announcement Tuesday.

By fully integrating the company’s ambient listening experience in Epic, JMH has estimated $3 million in cost savings, directly attributed to a 44% reduction in primary care provider turnover.

Dr. Priti Patel, JMH’s chief medical information officer, said the new AI tools are having a positive impact across the continuum of care. 

Various data metrics, including physician survey data, indicated an 11% decrease in clinician perceptions of burnout, with 86% of clinicians reporting that the new platform increased their efficiency. Epic user data revealed a 24% decrease in JMH clinicians’ time spent in notes and patient instructions; an 18% decrease in after-hours charting, or “pajama time“; and 40 minutes per day per provider in increased patient face time.

“This has been the most transformational technology that I’ve ever seen in healthcare,” Patel said. 

“Patients get increased face time and a deeper connection with their providers. Our clinicians can fully focus on their patients without having to multitask during the visit, and can go home on time at the end of the day.”

Agentic AI partners focusing on health

Vantiq, an AI-driven platform, announced Tuesday that it is partnering with the professional service firm Huron to develop advanced agentic AI with an initial focus on healthcare and transforming hospital operations.

The two organizations say they will focus on furthering autonomous technology for intelligent care hubs, smart rooms and smart hospitals to set an agentic AI foundation for use in other industries, such as the public sector, logistics and industrial operations.

To create real-time intelligence and proactively manage critical operations in operational and clinical command centers, the partners said they will leverage predictive insights and other data and communications tools.

“In healthcare, every second matters, which is why we want to load these command centers with the most sophisticated real-time intelligence and predictive tools available today,” Marty Sprinzen, Vantiq, cofounder and CEO, said in a statement. 

“This means care teams will no longer scramble to react to problems but will be empowered to anticipate and prevent them instead. From predicting ICU bed demands to ensuring equipment maintenance avoids costly delays, these command centers are redefining how hospitals operate.”

New features for intuitive experiences

AdvancedMD, which rejoined Francisco Partners’ technology portfolio in October, has rolled out more than 20 new product updates, marking the first major update since its acquisition. 

The company said Tuesday that the winter release includes enhanced patient information views in its practice management tier, which allow healthcare providers to view high-level patient information and access more detailed records as needed.

“We have also integrated population health reporting capabilities to help support providers participating in value-based care programs,” Tim Costantino, the company’s vice president and head of product, said in a statement.

The company also said new EHR features have streamlined the workflow process for clinical and administrative staff, including integrated pediatrics and care templates, improved visibility of annotations and messaging in patient charts, and automated linking to corresponding lab orders.

Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.