Natural language processing and ambient listening aren’t necessarily new to healthcare, but the technology is quickly evolving to move beyond dictation. Leading products now leverage artificial intelligence to make use of the data generated from the transcript of a clinical visit to generate insights, automate processes that otherwise require manual data entry and make the practice of medicine less burdensome.
“Ambient AI is poised to have a big impact in alleviating administrative burden, which is a significant driver of burnout,” says Punit Soni, founder and CEO of Suki, which makes an AI assistant for clinical use. Soni pointed to a recent Doximity report noting 81% of physicians feel overworked, 15% are considering leaving their practice due to burnout, and 30% are considering early retirement.
As ambient listening tools continue to take on the tedious tasks of documentation — which physicians are happy to hand off — the companies developing them are exploring how the tools can further reduce burnout, streamline workflows and support clinical decision-making.