Garron ED adopts AI scribe to improve workflow

TORONTO – Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) is one of the first hospitals in Ontario to adopt a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool to help reduce emergency department wait times, improve care for patients, and lessen the administrative burden on emergency physicians that can lead to burnout.

Called Ambient Scribe, the tool allows physicians in MGH’s Stavro Emergency Department (ED) to record interactions with consenting patients through a secure smartphone app. It uses AI technology to listen to, transcribe and produce clinical notes from conversations between patients and their physicians.

The technology follows Canadian privacy laws. Physicians are able to review and edit the notes produced by Ambient Scribe, and add notes related to a patient’s diagnoses, physical exams, treatment plans, labs and discharge instructions.

The notes are then easily transferred to the hospital’s patient health information database, where other members of a patient’s care team can review them to ensure the patient gets the continued care they need.

This AI-enabled process means physicians can better focus on assessing and interacting with patients, rather than having to split their attention between their patient and taking notes. It also reduces the risk of errors in clinical notes, which can happen when a physician is interrupted while note-taking.

“Typically, physicians are frantically writing down notes as they’re talking to their patients because they don’t want to miss any critical details,” said Dr. Kyle Vojdani, chief and medical director of MGH’s ED. “This tool allows us to focus and immerse ourselves in our conversations with patients like never before.”

From April to August, the use of Ambient Scribe allowed physicians in MGH’s ED to see 10% to 13% more patients, which is about two or three more patients for each physician’s shift.

Emergency physicians were also able to spend significantly less time – up to two hours less per shift – taking and reviewing clinical notes. This reduces the administrative burden on physicians, which research shows contributes to stress and burnout, while enabling them to spend more time providing care to patients – or simply relaxing with friends and family.

Altogether, this means patients had shorter wait times in the ED and more meaningful connections with their treating physicians.

“By leveraging AI, we can transform time-consuming note-taking into a quick, efficient process, enabling us to focus more on what matters most: our patients,” says Dr. David Rosenstein (pictured), emergency physician and information technology lead in MGH’s ED.

Eight physicians in MGH’s ED, including Dr. Rosenstein, used Ambient Scribe from April to August. The tool was so successful that all emergency physicians in the department now have the option to use it with consenting patients.

This is especially helpful as MGH prepares to see more patients during cold and flu season, especially in the ED which already sees more than 300 patients per day.

The AI transcribing tool is co-funded by MGH’s ED and physicians. It is the latest innovation introduced in the ED to help make the emergency care experience better for both patients and providers. Other innovations in MGH’s ED include the E-Booking Portal for Minor Injuries, patient-centred wait time clocks and the Child and Youth Emergency Zone.

Source: Victoria Gemma, summer student, Michael Garron Hospital