Artificial intelligence is being used across the medical industry, from assisting with highly complex procedures to improving diagnostic accuracy. It could also be a powerful tool in the fight against physician burnout.
Carrollton, Va.-based Sentara Primary Care has about 200 physicians utilizing DAX Copilot, according to a July 22 article in the Daily Press. DAX Copilot is a generative AI program that can filter through conversations with patients and create a narrative summary of their visits. The program can also be used for prescriptions or lab requests.
“It’s the ‘pajama time,’ as they say,” said David Wallance, MD, a physician at Sentara in the article. Wallace has been in practice since 1995, and had previously done all note taking by hand.
“If my notes aren’t finished, I either stay after work and finish up my notes, or now I’ve got to go home and take time away from my family to finish up my notes or I come back into work on the weekends. I think that can increase burnout for providers.”
The app can be used on physicians’ phones, recording a session with a patient and automatically writing the visit note. Use of the technology is disclosed to patients, who are able to opt out. But out of over 20,000 visits, only one has, according to Stephen Payne, Sentara’s regional director.
Mr. Payne emphasized Sentara’s high standards for privacy. The health system had an information technology staff, a legal team and a working group all dedicated to reviewing the AI program that would ultimately be used at Sentara.
And while physicians’ may need to make small edits to the AI notes before signing off, the immediate reaction from physicians has been overwhelmingly positive, Mr. Payne said.
“The feedback from our providers, it’s been unbelievable,” he said. “I’ve never worked on a project and seen results like this, where you’re changing the lives of people you’re working with.”