Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “write visit notes in the EHR, often after hours”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

90 min
typically, every day
50%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Use an ambient AI scribe to draft the visit note

An approved ambient scribe listens to the visit (with the patient's consent) and drafts the note, orders and patient instructions in the EHR. You review and sign. Most clinicians get back part of their evening, not all of it.

Typically saves about 40% of the time1 h to set up
  1. 1Ask your organization which ambient scribe is approved: Microsoft Dragon Copilot (formerly DAX Copilot), Abridge, Ambience, Suki, Nabla or the one built into your EHR (such as Epic's AI Charting).
  2. 2Do the short training and set your note preferences (sections, length, style).
  3. 3Tell each patient and get consent, as your policy requires.
  4. 4Review every draft carefully before signing; you are responsible for the note.
  5. 5Only use tools your organization has approved and covered by a HIPAA business associate agreement (BAA) for anything with patient information.

Tools: Microsoft Dragon Copilot · Abridge · Ambience · Suki · Nabla

Fix 2 of 2

Software feature

Dictate into the EHR with approved speech recognition

Medical speech recognition (Dragon Medical One, now part of Dragon Copilot, or your EHR's mobile voice tools) lets you speak notes, letters and reports straight into the chart. Speaking is about three times faster than typing.

Typically saves about 35% of the time45 min to set up
  1. 1Ask IT whether you have Dragon Medical One, Dragon Copilot or voice tools in your EHR mobile app (such as Epic Haiku or Rover).
  2. 2Do the setup and a few minutes of voice training.
  3. 3Create voice shortcuts for text you repeat often.
  4. 4Dictate, then read back before signing.
  5. 5Only use tools your organization has approved and covered by a HIPAA business associate agreement (BAA) for anything with patient information.

Tools: Dragon Medical One / Microsoft Dragon Copilot · EHR mobile apps (Epic Haiku, Rover, Oracle Health mobile)

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Have you used an ambient AI scribe that drafts your visit note while you talk with the patient?
With the patient's consent, an approved tool like Microsoft Dragon Copilot or Abridge listens to the visit and drafts the note for you to check and sign. Only use the tool your organization has approved.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Physician / clinician

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Other common tasks for Physicians / clinicians