AI Scribe Program at Bon Secours Richmond Health System Reduces Physician Busy Work

What tasks do physicians need to perform that are essentially busy work and could be done differently? This question drove innovations at Bon Secours Richmond (Va.) Health System.

“We’ve observed that generating notes requires a significant amount of time and attention,” said Peter Charvat, MD, chief clinical officer of Bon Secours Richmond, to Becker’s. “While it’s a crucial part of the medical visit, it can consume hours of physicians’ time.”

The solution? An AI generative scribe program. This secure mobile app transcribes the physician-patient conversation, self-edits, and creates a detailed, accurate note that automatically updates the electronic health record. The physician simply needs to review and make any necessary edits.

“We’ve encountered many medical solutions that promised to save time but failed to do so. This one truly delivers on that promise,” he said.

The impact has been threefold for physicians.

First, the detailed notes generated are helping physicians develop better treatment plans and catch things they initially missed. One physician shared with Dr. Charvat that she often leaves the room with a treatment plan in mind, but upon reviewing the generated note, she notices details she missed during the appointment. This sometimes results in ordering additional tests or making changes to the care plan for a more comprehensive approach.

Second, it boosts physician productivity. According to Dr. Charvat, many physicians either bring a computer into the room or wait to type up notes after the visit or at the end of the day. The AI scribe allows physicians to focus entirely on their patients without the distraction of a screen. It can distinguish between different parts of the exam and exclude irrelevant information. For example, Dr. Charvat explained that it can differentiate between a patient reporting family medical history and casually mentioning a family member’s health. Additionally, the AI scribe can create separate notes for the physical exam if the physician dictates their observations aloud.

Third, the AI scribe significantly reduces documentation time for physicians. Dr. Charvat mentioned that many physicians used to spend hours in the evenings writing notes. Now, these physicians can leave shortly after their last patient because the notes are “seamlessly generated and remarkably accurate.”

The AI scribe has also proven effective for virtual patient visits.

Currently, 50 physicians and advanced practice providers in primary care and specialty care outpatient clinics are piloting the AI scribe.

The program launched on April 17 and has garnered positive feedback from both patients and physicians, according to Dr. Charvat. He believes that the AI scribe will enhance patient experience scores by increasing face-to-face time.

“I believe this will ultimately benefit both patients and providers,” Dr. Charvat concluded.