AI-driven ambient listening solution now available for eye care providers

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A new artificial intelligence (AI)-driven ambient listening solution is now available for eye care providers that can save them up to 2 hours of documentation time per day.¹ NextGen Healthcare’s NextGen Ambient Assist, which is also currently available for other medical professionals, works to transcribe patient-provider conversations in real time and is capable of summarizing patient encounters within 60 seconds of a visit by utilizing AI, according to a news release.

“Efficiency is critical in ensuring we provide the best care to our patients, and this tailored release of NextGen Ambient Assist is poised to revolutionize our workflows,” said Shannan Brown, OD, of Michiana Eye Center in South Bend, Indiana, in the release. “There's nothing this advanced in the ophthalmology and optometry space; it's clear how much it's needed to help streamline operations and reduce the documentation burden — very exciting.”

The latest release of the solution addresses specific challenges and limitations of using ambient listening to document eye examinations by organizing details from conversations into organized field for every section of the eye, according to the release. After the provider reviews the generated visit note and makes edits from their mobile device through the NextGen Mobile app, the notes can then be delivered into the NextGen Enterprise electronic health record (EHR) in a secure fashion.¹

Additionally, NextGen Ambient Assist is able to recognize medical acronyms and provides automation for both uploading information into the EHR and deleting audio and transcripts to ensure patient privacy is protected. The solution also provides decision support for diagnoses and relevant lab or imaging orders for provider review and approval.¹

“Since it was first introduced last year, NextGen Ambient Assist has transformed the practice of medicine for providers across many specialties by helping them realize unprecedented efficiency,” said David Sides, CEO of NextGen Healthcare, in the release. “Now, we are excited to help ophthalmologists and optometrists save time and guard against burnout with an ambient listening solution that addresses their specific needs and workflows.”

NextGen Ambient Assist technology can be experienced via demonstration at the American Academy of Ophthalmology 24 meeting from October 18-21 in Chicago, Illinois.

Reference:

1. NextGen Healthcare introduces AI-drive ambient listening innovation for ophthalmologists and optometrists. News release. NextGen Healthcare. October 1, 2024. Accessed October 7, 2024.