Enhancing patient care with new AI solution for nurses

Voice-activated ambient documentation allows nurses to focus less on paperwork and more on their patients.

Baptist Health is one of the first health systems in the country to embark on a new AI solution that enhances care by streamlining the charting process for nurses to document important details about a patient’s condition and care plan.

A collaboration with Microsoft, the innovative solution is voice-enabled, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual documentation. This new ambient listening technology is currently being piloted at Baptist Medical Center South in Jacksonville, Florida, with the intention to eventually roll it out to the entire health system. Baptist Health is one of a select few health systems in the nation to collaborate on the development of this new time-saving solution.

“Nursing is a rewarding career, yet it can be fast-paced, which can lead to a high turnover rate,” said Tammy Daniel, DNP, RN, BSN, NEA-BC, MA, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Baptist Health. The World Health Organization predicts a shortage of 4.5 million nurses by 2030. “Developing technology like this to reduce the time spent on documentation is crucial for retaining nurses. It helps increase nurses’ work satisfaction while allowing them to spend more time with patients,” Dr. Daniel said.

Erin Corbett, BSN, is one of 15 nurses at Baptist South to test the new mobile technology and provide feedback to Microsoft for improvements. Recorded information is encrypted in a certified environment to protect patient privacy and only collected with patient consent.

“I was a bit hesitant when I first heard about a technology that uses AI in the nursing field,” said Corbett. “Our profession is hands-on, so it was hard to imagine how technology could play a role.”

Corbett was pleased to find that the new technology gave her more time at the bedside with her patients. “I can deliver even better care to my patients now. It’s a user-friendly tool where I can input important information about the patient in real-time while I am in the patient’s room,” she said.

“Previously, I would have to leave the patient’s side to finish up my charting at the nurses’ station. Now I can remain in the patient’s room and get more insight into their health and a better understanding of their concerns. I get to know my patients better.”

The voice-enabled technology is integrated into Baptist Health’s electronic medical record allowing the technology to populate the nursing chart real-time through a seamless and confidential manner.

“When we’re finished verbalizing our observations, we review the data the AI software has populated to be sure it is accurate,” said Corbett. “The technology adapts to your voice and intonation.”

Corbett estimates that the time she spends charting has been reduced by half.

“Setting nurses up for success and making sure they are part of the solution is crucial,” Dr. Daniel said. “We can’t expect them to adopt a solution just because management thinks it’s the best way. That’s why we’re including our nurses in the refinement of the technology and getting their buy-in early on.”

“At Microsoft, we’re committed to empowering nurses with innovative AI solutions that reduce administrative burdens and enhance patient care,” said Mary Varghese Presti, BSN, MPH, VP, Portfolio Evolution and Incubation, Microsoft. “Working closely with nurses at Baptist Health, we’re helping nurses to spend more time with their patients. This represents a pivotal moment in nursing, where AI-driven solutions are creating a more efficient and satisfying work environment and returning the human connection of patient and nurse to the forefront.”