Baptist Health piloting AI assistant in Jacksonville to cut nurse paperwork

Baptist Health piloting AI assistant in Jacksonville to cut nurse paperwork (Courtesy of INNO Jax) — Baptist Health is piloting a new artificial intelligence program in Jacksonville that aims to streamline the charting process for nurses, allowing them to focus less on paperwork and more on patients.

In partnership with Microsoft, the AI-solution is found in voice-activated ambient documentation that eliminates the need for “time-consuming” manual documentation, according to a news release.

It’s currently being piloted at Baptist Medical Center South in Jacksonville, with the intent to eventually roll out to the entire health system.

“Nursing is a rewarding career, yet it can be fast-paced, which can lead to a high turnover rate,” said Tammy Daniel, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Baptist Health. “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.”

The World Health Organization predicts a shortage of 4.5 million nurses by 2030.

Baptist Health is one of the first health systems in the U.S. to collaborate on the development of an AI product like this one, pitched as a time-saving solution.

Information recorded with this tool is encrypted in a certified environment to protect patient privacy and is only collected with patient consent, according to Baptist. After nurses verbalize their observations, they review the data created by the software to ensure accuracy.

“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,” said Erin Corbett, one of 15 nurses at Baptist South testing the new technology and providing feedback to Microsoft for improvement, in a prepared release.

“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.”

Corbett estimates that the time she spends charting has been reduced by half, according to the release.

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

“At Microsoft, we’re committed to empowering nurses with innovative AI solutions that reduce administrative burdens and enhance patient care,” said Mary Varghese Presti, vice president of portfolio evolution and incubation at 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.”