- OntarioMD's independent study of AI scribes, which included
WELL's AI Voice solution and several others, found over a 70%
reduction in time spent on patient encounter documentation,
allowing physicians more time for patient care.
- 82.3% of primary care providers expressed a desire to continue
using AI scribes long-term due to improvements in workflow
efficiency and reduced after-hours documentation.
- The study revealed an average decrease of 3.5-minute reduction
in time spent on administrative tasks per patient encounter,
highlighting the potential of AI scribes to ease administrative
burdens and enhance practice efficiency.
VANCOUVER, BC and TORONTO, Oct. 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ - WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) (OTCQX:
WHTCF) ("WELL" or the "Company"), a digital health company focused
on tech-enabling healthcare providers, is pleased to announce the
publication of the final report from the AI Scribe Evaluation
Study, conducted by OntarioMD. The study highlights the
effectiveness of AI-powered scribe technology in significantly
reducing administrative burdens on primary care providers (PCPs)
while improving both patient care and physician work-life
balance.
The study, which involved testing several AI scribes, including
WELL's AI Voice (WAIV) solution, with 152 primary care providers
across Ontario, delivered
compelling insights into how AI scribes are transforming healthcare
workflows. Among the most notable findings:
- 70%+ reduction in time spent on patient encounter
documentation was reported by primary care providers.
- 73% of PCPs stated that the benefits of AI scribes
outweighed any inconveniences.
- 82.3% of PCPs indicated they would continue using
AI scribes in their practice for the long term.
These results underscore the growing recognition of AI as a
valuable tool for physicians, offering much-needed relief from the
time-consuming administrative tasks that often detract from patient
care. PCPs reported that the use of AI scribes allowed them to
spend more time with patients, with 62.5% reporting improved
patient interaction during simple appointments, and 78.9%
indicating more time was available for complex cases.
Hamed Shahbazi, Founder and CEO
of WELL, commented "The findings of this study highlight the
immense potential of AI tools in transforming healthcare delivery.
This success with AI scribes paves the way for further integration
of advanced technologies, such as those for disease detection,
clinical research, and other AI-driven innovations. By building
long-term partnerships and expanding our AI capabilities, we can
continue to support physicians and enhance patient care across a
patient's healthcare journey."
The study also revealed the profound impact of AI scribes on
reducing administrative burden and physician burnout:
- On average, PCPs who used AI scribes reported 3.5-minute
reduction in time spent on administrative tasks per patient
encounter, which translates to approximately 2 hours per day.
- 68.4% of PCPs reported a notable decrease in administrative
burden, and 55.3% experienced less stress or burnout.
- Additionally, nearly half of the PCPs reported minimal to no
after-hours documentation following the adoption of AI
scribes.
This reduction in cognitive load not only benefits physicians
but also enhances the patient experience. With less time spent on
administrative tasks, physicians are able to focus more on building
engagement and rapport with patients, which was noted as a key
benefit in the study findings. Furthermore, the reduction in
after-hours documentation improved work-life balance, with 58.6% of
PCPs reporting higher job satisfaction and professional
fulfillment.
Amir Javidan, COO of WELL, added
"The positive findings from this study underscore the value of AI
scribes for easing the burden on physicians. Building on this
success, our next step is to deepen the integration of WAIV, WELL's
own AI scribe solution, with electronic medical record (EMR)
software. This goal will be to create a seamless experience that
maximizes efficiency and reduces administrative tasks even further.
By embedding WAIV directly into physicians' workflows, we can
unlock greater value for healthcare providers, making a real
difference in their day-to-day operations and ultimately improving
patient outcomes."
OntarioMD's independent AI Scribe Evaluation Study plays a
crucial role in underscoring the urgent need for technologies that
can reduce the administrative burden on primary care physicians. As
a trusted third-party for advising Ontario PCPs on digital health
tools, OntarioMD's findings highlight the significant benefits of
AI scribe solutions in freeing up valuable time that physicians can
dedicate to patient care. With family physicians spending up to 19
hours a week on paperwork, the need for effective solutions has
never been greater. OntarioMD, along with Ontario's broader healthcare initiatives, is
committed to advancing healthcare by supporting innovative tools
like AI scribes, which improve both practitioner efficiency and
patient outcomes.
"The findings from the AI Scribe Evaluation Study are very
encouraging for patients, physicians, and the health-care system.
This innovative tool is helping to create capacity for primary care
practices and is restoring physicians' joy in medicine. OntarioMD
is very proud of our role in this study," said Robert Fox, OntarioMD's CEO.
This study is an important milestone in WELL's mission to
tech-enable healthcare providers, helping them reclaim valuable
time to focus on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. By
reducing the administrative load and allowing for greater
physician-patient interaction, AI scribes are not only improving
workflow but also driving better outcomes for both healthcare
providers and their patients.
WELL remains committed to advancing digital health solutions
that enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery, improve patient
care, and support the long-term well-being of physicians. To learn
more about WELL AI Voice, and WELL's AI product suite please visit:
https://wellhealth.ai/.
About WELL Health Technologies Corp.
WELL's mission is to tech-enable healthcare providers. We do
this by developing the best technologies, services, and support
available, which ensures healthcare providers are empowered to
positively impact patient outcomes. WELL's comprehensive healthcare
and digital platform includes extensive front and back-office
management software applications that help physicians run and
secure their practices. WELL's solutions enable more than 37,000
healthcare providers between the US and Canada and power the largest owned and
operated healthcare ecosystem in Canada with more than 180 clinics supporting
primary care, specialized care, and diagnostic services. In
the United States WELL's solutions
are focused on specialized markets such as the gastrointestinal
market, women's health, primary care, and mental health. WELL is
publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
"WELL" and on the OTC Exchange under the symbol "WHTCF". To learn
more about WELL, please visit: www.well.company.
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SOURCE WELL Health Technologies Corp.
