Meditech, a prominent player in EHR and health IT, is making waves at HIMSS24 this week with a primary focus on artificial intelligence, a key area in healthcare information technology.
The company is unveiling its early adopters for incorporating ambient listening into its Expanse EHR, introducing new features for its conversational AI functionality, and showcasing successful implementations from early adopters using Expanse search and summarization in collaboration with Google Health.
In an interview with Helen Waters, Meditech’s Executive Vice President and COO, at HIMSS24 Booths 2480, 3760-71, and 3760-92, we gained insights into the latest developments.
Q. Can you elaborate on the early adopters of ambient listening integration into the Expanse EHR and their engagement with this AI technology?
A. Recent data from The Harris Poll’s Physician Sentiment Survey reveals that 93% of physicians experience burnout regularly, with many working extra hours. A significant 83% believe that AI could alleviate this issue.
Meditech sees conversational and ambient AI as pivotal in reducing clinician documentation time, allowing providers to focus more on patient care. By collaborating with various ambient listening vendors, such as Suki, Meditech aims to seamlessly integrate these solutions into the Expanse EHR.
Suki, the initial ambient vendor in Meditech’s Alliance partnership program, is currently operational at Decatur County Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Healthcare. The live implementation at these sites is expected in the coming months. Early feedback indicates positive outcomes in enhancing work-life balance for providers and improving patient-provider interactions. Demonstrations of the Suki integration will be showcased daily at HIMSS24.
Furthermore, collaborations with Augmedix and Nuance DAX Copilot are progressing to streamline workflow efficiencies. Meditech’s API integration enables direct access to ambient listening solutions from within the EHR, facilitating automated clinical note generation and customization by clinicians before integration into the EHR.
The human touch remains crucial, allowing providers to review, edit, and finalize notes within the ambient listening platform. This approach enhances documentation accuracy and reduces the burden on care providers, with potential applications across various care settings.
Q. Could you provide insights into the new functionality surrounding your conversational AI feature, Virtual Assistant, and its benefits for caregivers?
A. Meditech, in partnership with Nuance, has expanded its Virtual Assistant solution to empower providers in navigating charts and placing orders using conversational AI. This enhancement integrates ambient listening workflows, enabling physicians to seamlessly search for medications and labs while placing orders, fostering a voice-driven workflow to enhance efficiency and user experience.
Q. Share more about the successful use cases from your early adopter utilizing Expanse search and summarization with Google Health.
A. The collaboration with Google Health on Expanse search and summarization aims to facilitate quick data retrieval across various sources within the EHR, enhancing provider efficiency. Mile Bluff Medical Center exemplifies the successful implementation of this technology, led by Randy Brandt, showcasing substantial time savings and improved data interpretation.
Notable outcomes include streamlined provider note reviews, accelerated record retrieval, and enhanced infection control processes. The solution’s versatility extends across clinical and non-clinical departments, demonstrating the transformative impact on operational workflows and patient care.
The integration of Expanse search and summarization at Mile Bluff underscores the growing demand for AI-driven solutions to alleviate user burdens and enhance healthcare delivery. The solution’s ability to distill extensive data into actionable insights underscores its value in optimizing clinical workflows and enhancing patient outcomes.
Stay tuned for further advancements in generative AI for clinical documentation, emphasizing the commitment to innovation and user-centric healthcare solutions.
Q. Lastly, could you discuss Meditech’s initiatives in genomics, particularly in pharmacogenomics, and the integration with GenomOncology?
A. Meditech’s Expanse Genomics solution offers a comprehensive EHR-based platform for genetic testing, result management, and personalized treatment guidance. The integration of pharmacogenomics, in collaboration with First Databank, enhances treatment decision-making by providing real-time drug-gene interaction checks and tailored therapeutic recommendations based on genetic profiles.
This integration optimizes treatment efficacy, reduces research time for clinicians, and minimizes risks of adverse reactions. By leveraging genomic data, Meditech enables precise treatment matching and clinical trial recommendations, fostering personalized care delivery and advancing oncology outcomes.
The integration with GenomOncology further enhances therapeutic guidance and clinical trial matching, leveraging AI-driven insights to recommend optimal therapies based on patient-specific genetic data. This collaboration underscores Meditech’s commitment to precision medicine and data-driven oncology care, empowering clinicians with actionable insights for informed treatment decisions.
Join us at HIMSS24 to explore these groundbreaking initiatives in genomics and oncology, underscoring our dedication to driving innovation and excellence in healthcare delivery.
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