Mayo Clinic, Epic, Abridge develop AI tool for nurses
MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES — Mayo Clinic has announced a collaboration with Epic and healthcare AI company Abridge to develop a generative AI tool specifically designed for nurses.
This innovative ambient clinical documentation platform aims to alleviate the documentation burden that nurses face, allowing them more time to provide patient care.
In an interview with Becker’s, Mayo Clinic Chief Nursing Officer Ryannon Frederick said, “Everyone knows there are challenges to the nursing workforce right now. One of the things that we hear is the biggest pain point in their day is documentation.”
AI-powered documentation solution
The AI tool, which will be integrated into the Epic electronic health record (EHR) system, will be one of the first of its kind and tailored to the nursing profession. Mayo Clinic is currently obtaining patient consent to record visits with nurses, which will provide the data necessary for Abridge to develop the AI solution. The platform is expected to start pilot testing in early 2025.
“Our nurses are really, really strong and excellent at the nursing practice,” Frederick noted. “You build that with the talent and capabilities of Abridge with their generative AI solution and their track record there, as well as Epic and their excellence in electronic medical records. All three of those capabilities were needed to build the solution.”
Collaborative development process
Abridge, a major player in the AI medical scribe market, raised $150 million to further its initiatives, bringing its valuation to $850 million. The company’s other clients include notable health systems such as UPMC, Sutter Health, and Christus Health.
Epic, the largest EHR vendor in the U.S., has been increasingly integrating generative AI into its offerings.
The new AI tool will assist nurses with specific EHR workflow and documentation requirements, including patient assessments. Mayo Clinic’s nurses are actively involved in the development process to ensure the tool effectively meets their needs.
“No decisions about patient care and workflow that involve the way nurses deliver their care to patients should be made without their input and without their direct involvement,” Frederick emphasized. “To be honest with you, it’s not even a question of if they should be involved. This tool will not work if they are not involved and if they’re not leading.”
Enhancing patient care through technology
The AI platform is designed to fill in necessary data points in the EHR, which nurses will then review for accuracy and sign off on. This approach aims to reduce the time nurses spend on documentation, allowing them to focus more on patient care.
“This solution can translate the work they are already doing naturally right into the electronic medical record and take away the time they’re spending doing the transcription so they have more time to have their hands and their eyes and their brains on the patients, doing what nurses do beautifully every day and that’s providing excellent patient care,” Frederick said.
