Opinion: AI scribe technology lets me focus on my patients, not a screen

Two decades ago, when I first began practicing emergency medicine, patient documentation was a manual process. I would write on carbon-copy forms that were later stored in the belly of the hospital, in archives, as patient files. To get a lab test, an X-ray, or a medication for a patient, I had to jot down instructions on a piece of paper, track down the right nurse, and verbally convey what orders I had put in. Phones were not smart and the fax machine was still a cornerstone of communication in the department. Every task required leg work and time.

The advent of electronic health records dramatically improved workflow. Suddenly, what once took multiple steps could be completed with a few clicks. But, as providers, our eyes became glued to the screens that aided us. We juggled typing orders and medical notes while speaking to patients. Physically, we turned our backs to our patients and our faces to the glowing digital workflows in front of us.

Read the rest…