#United States #AI Technology #St. Louis #Dragon Copilot #Mercy Healthcare

Revolutionizing Nursing Care with AI

In a move that promises to change the landscape of nursing care, Mercy is collaborating with Microsoft to introduce a groundbreaking ambient AI tool known as Dragon Copilot. This innovative solution is aimed at alleviating the burdens faced by nurses, allowing them more quality time with their patients while simultaneously streamlining administrative tasks.

What is Ambient AI?

Ambient AI operates behind the scenes, adapting to real-world interactions and recognizing human behavior in typical healthcare environments. This technology simplifies the documentation process through voice recognition, wherein nurses narrate their patient interactions. These narratives are automatically captured and integrated into the patients' electronic health records (EHRs) with patient consent, ensuring that valuable care details are documented without adding to nurses' workloads.

Currently, hospitals on Mercy campuses in St. Louis, Springfield, Missouri, and Fort Smith, Arkansas, are already utilizing Dragon Copilot, with plans to expand its use across additional locations by the end of the year. Mercy is one of only eight U.S. health systems directly involved in shaping this advanced technology alongside Microsoft and experienced frontline nurses.

Addressing Real Challenges in Nursing

As hospitals grapple with nursing shortages and increasing documentation demands, the introduction of Dragon Copilot seeks to alleviate these pressures. According to Cheryl Denison, clinical integration director at Mercy's Office of Transformation, the goal of implementing ambient nursing capabilities is to lighten the burdens faced by nurses, not to overwhelm them with more technology.

Denison states, "We’re seeing firsthand how Dragon Copilot is transforming the environment of care while also supporting nursing practice directly. This AI-enabled technology allows nurses to document care more authentically through speech, reducing cognitive load and enabling them to prioritize patient care and interaction."

With a looming global nursing shortage projected at approximately 4.5 million by 2030, tools like Dragon Copilot are crucial for supporting nurse retention and enhancing job satisfaction. Reports indicate that 65% of nurses experience high stress levels, and more than 25% of their shifts are consumed by documentation tasks. Dragon Copilot aims to counter these issues in several ways:

• - Streamlined Documentation: Nurses can audibly record their care, seamlessly transforming these narrations into organized and reviewable electronic documentation.
• - Access to Clinical Insight: Within the workflow, nurses can conveniently retrieve reliable medical content, minimizing the time spent navigating various systems.
• - Task Automation: AI assists in drafting notes and summarizing patient interactions, effectively minimizing clicks and expediting the documentation process.

Development Through Nurse Feedback

The development of this technology has emphasized input from real users—nurses at Mercy and other partnered health systems. Their direct feedback was crucial in crafting a solution that effectively reduces administrative burdens while enhancing collaboration, allowing nurses to devote more time to patient-centric care.

Stephanie Whitaker, chief nursing officer at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, shared the positive impact that Dragon Copilot is already having on nursing efficiency. "Many of our nurses have expressed that by narrating care in real-time, the resulting documentation is far more comprehensive. We are eager to implement this system throughout all Mercy locations, as it clearly enhances our ability to provide high-quality patient care."

Early Results and Metrics

Initial metrics from Mercy, shared by Microsoft, highlight the effectiveness of Dragon Copilot:

• - A 21% reduction in documentation latency, indicating faster updates to patient records.
• - A 65% improvement in perceived timeliness of documentation.
• - 8-24 minutes saved per shift for intensive users, boosting their efficiency.
• - A 29% reduction in overtime, leading to better work-life balance for nursing staff.
• - 300% increase in mobile platform usage, promoting flexibility.
• - 4.5% increase in patient satisfaction, a critical performance indicator.

Umesh Rustogi, general manager at Microsoft, expressed enthusiasm about this collaboration, stating, "Partnering with Mercy to develop the ambient AI solution has been rewarding. The real-time feedback from both the frontline nurses and our nursing informatics team was instrumental in tailoring the technology to meet their real-world needs, ultimately improving the experience for nurses and patients alike."

About Mercy

Mercy is recognized as one of the largest health systems in the United States and has been honored for its exceptional patient experience. With over 55 hospitals across multiple states and a commitment to community care, Mercy continues to adopt advanced technologies to enhance healthcare delivery. The implementation of Dragon Copilot is just one example of how they are focusing on innovation to ensure that care remains centered on the patient while uplifting the nursing workforce.

The collaboration between Mercy and Microsoft represents a significant leap forward in healthcare technology, with the potential to improve not just nursing practice, but patient outcomes across the board.