Health care systems in the area are using AI to reduce doctor burnout and improve patient care.
CLEVELAND — Northeast Ohio health care officials say their services are in high demand. But the ability to meet our communities’ growing needs is limited by the medical workforce, which can lead to burnout. So, the health systems are finding artificial intelligence solutions to help both doctors and patients.
When Dr. Dylan Timberlake helps patients with their allergies at the Cleveland Clinic, he feels more connected. He’s not spending time typing on a computer because an AI scribing tool is taking notes.
“Now it really is, set the phone down, sit here and have a conversation with someone, and then move on,” explains Dr. Dylan Timberlake. “And I don't have to worry about this whole looking back and forth.”
With patient consent, the tool records their conversations and uploads the transcript directly into the electronic medical record, saving Dr. Timberlake hours of typing.
“I go back to my office, I just look through really quickly to make sure everything's accurate, which it typically is. And then I sign the encounter and I'm done. So, it's a lot more efficient,” Timberlake said.
Doctors started using the AI scribe in February. Dr. Timberlake has only used it for a couple of weeks. The Cleveland Clinic spent months testing AI solutions and will roll out the AI scribe tool system-wide this year. It also recently selected another AI platform, Akasa, to improve coding accuracy between patient care and billing.
“We can't forget that it's very important to do no harm. And, from that perspective, it's critical for us to get good at bringing AI to bear in a very deliberate and safe way,” said Dr. Rohit Chandra, the Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Digital Officer.
Thoughts echoed by MetroHealth.
“There's been an explosive growth in health care solutions that are either driven by AI or integrated with AI,” said Dr. Yasir Tarabichi, the Chief Health AI Officer at MetroHealth. “And our core job as a responsible health care system is to make sure that we understand the technology and the tools that we're implementing.”
MetroHealth recently selected the Pieces AI platform, which integrates with its electronic health records to give clinicians a complete view of each patient’s history.
“What that really helps clinicians do is focus on the most important aspects of that journey and also reduce the likelihood that they're going to miss something,” said Tarabichi.
Doctor’s days are typically divided by seeing patients and doing office work. AI is helping cut down the time spent on administrative tasks.
“The upside is more quality time with your provider, who's no longer burned out,” said Tarabichi. “And thinking about the five hours they're going to spend after work, you know, closing their charts, for example.”
Both health systems emphasize that any AI platforms they implement still require human oversight.
“We are not at a point where AI is taking care of patients directly in any particular way,” Tarabichi said.
“We are the providers of care,” said Chandra. “So, it is important for us to ensure that the care is safe and is something that we would put our name and brand behind, even if it is assisted by technology.”
Both the Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth's use of AI is aimed at transforming local health care to make it safer, cheaper and more accessible. And while they’re leaning on technology, leaders stress, they’re in the business of health care.
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