In the United States, the shortage of doctors has been a growing problem for years. This shortage makes it harder for patients to get care and increases the workload for health professionals.
Sentara Medical Group has started using new technology to help doctors with this issue. This spring, over 40 providers began using DAX Copilot, a Microsoft AI tool, to automate patient notes.
Traditionally, doctors spend many extra hours on paperwork. This tool reduces their workload, decreases burnout, and allows more time for patients.
At Sentara Family Medicine Physicians, Dr. David Wallace uses the AI software. It has changed how he interacts with his patients.
“When the appointment begins, I use my phone to pull up the patient’s medical record and start recording with DAX Copilot,” Wallace said. “It records silently while I talk to the patient. By the time I get back to my office, the note is typed up and ready. It’s about 95% accurate, and I only need to change a word or two.”
The app is secure and removes unrelated personal details from the conversation. Wallace said his patients have welcomed the AI technology, allowing him to connect more with them without typing or writing notes during the appointment.
The American Medical Association estimates that doctors spend about two hours on documentation for every hour of patient care. Sentara Medical Group wants to give this time back to providers to see and spend more time with patients.
Dr. Steven Pearman, vice president and chief medical officer of primary care, and Stephen Payne, regional director of business operations at Sentara Medical Group, talked about the importance of this technology. Currently, over 200 doctors and providers are using DAX Copilot.
For Dr. Wallace, AI changes his day and frees up valuable time. “If it takes me less time to document, I can see more patients,” he said. Wallace is also open to trying new software in the future, hoping it can assist with tasks like ordering labs and processing referrals.
“Ultimately, it’s my responsibility,” Wallace said, “but it would be helpful if some of those things could be set.”
Source: newsnationnow
