AMA Update

Podcast Recap | AI scribes for clinicians: How ambient listening in medicine works and future AI use cases

January 16, 2025

In a recent AMA Update podcast, Dr. Brian Hoberman, executive vice president of information technology and chief information officer at The Permanente Medical Group, discussed the implementation and impact of ambient scribe technology in healthcare. Hosted by Todd Unger, the conversation delved into how this technology enhances clinician-patient interactions and the future potential of AI in healthcare.

Podcast length: 16 min.

Key takeaways:

1. Reduction in administrative burden. An ambient scribe is a system that records conversations between a patient and clinician, sometimes including the patient's family members. After processing, it generates accurate and readable clinical notes, as well as clear discharge or post-visit instructions for patients. This new technology significantly decreases the time clinicians spend on documentation, allowing more focus on patient care.
2. Improved documentation accuracy. AI scribes enhance the accuracy of medical records by capturing detailed patient interactions in real-time.
3. Enhanced clinician-patient interaction. By alleviating documentation tasks, clinicians can engage more meaningfully with patients, improving the overall care experience.
4. Challenges in adaptation. Integrating AI scribes into various medical specialties (e.g., internal medicine vs. psychiatry) presents challenges, requiring tailored solutions for different clinical environments.
5. Future potential of AI. The ongoing development of AI in healthcare promises further advancements, emphasizing the importance of responsible and ethical AI usage.

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast recap are solely that of the hosts and guest and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of epocrates and athenahealth.

Source:

Unger, T (Host). (2025, January 6). American Medical Association: AMA Update. AI scribes for clinicians: How ambient listening in medicine works and future AI use cases. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/ai-scribes-clinicians-how-ambient-listening-medicine-works-and-future