Sentara tests using AI to create notes on patients to help reduce physician burnout
The Virginian-Pilot
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Contributed by: Sarah Richardson
Summary
Dr. David Wallace and around 200 other primary care physicians at Sentara are testing DAX Copilot, a generative AI that automatically transcribes patient visit notes. The AI technology is designed to alleviate the administrative burden on doctors, thereby reducing burnout and addressing the shortage of primary care physicians. The system, which records conversations via a secure app, has received positive feedback from providers and patients, with only one report of patient objection out of over 20,000 visits. Sentara’s legal and IT teams ensure privacy by routing recordings directly to Nuance Communications' servers instead of storing them on doctors’ phones, and while the AI-generated notes still require doctors' review and signatures, it significantly cuts down on document preparation time. Additionally, the AI has the potential to offer visit highlights and write prescriptions, aiming to further streamline medical workflows.
