While artificial intelligence may not be ready to practice medicine, physicians are using generative AI software to save hours on documentation processes and have more effective conversations with patients, The New York Times reported June 26.
Physician burnout is frequently attributed to the number of hours physicians must spend on documentation in EHRs. Software programs like Abridge, a large language model designed to help the clerical overload in healthcare, are increasingly being used to summarize, organize and tag visits and recorded conversations between a physician and a patient.
After a successful test run of 10 physicians using generative AI for two months at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, the center plans to make the software available to all its 2,200 physicians. Additionally, more than 1,000 physicians at the University of Pittsburgh Medical System currently use the Abridge software, according to the Times.
Michelle Thompson, DO, a family physician in Hermitage, Pa., who specializes in lifestyle and integrative care, told the Times she saves almost two hours every day with the help of the software. Additionally, Matthew Hitchcock, MD, a family physician in Chattanooga, Tenn., said the time spent on his patient visit documentation went from two hours to 20 minutes.
Dr. Thompson told the Times using generative AI has allowed her to be "100 percent present" for her patients.