MEDITECH, together with Nuance, launched a new service to help physicians more effectively interact with Expanse EHR using nothing but their voice. Built upon Nuance’s Dragon Medical solution that is already used by more than 550,000 physicians, the two companies have partnered to launch the MEDITECH Expanse Virtual Assistant. As a result, physicians will be able to navigate their EHR hands-free and transform the way they practice and provide care. This, MEDITECH claims, will save physicians steps and time, freeing them up to focus on direct patient care.
Physicians can simply ask “Ok, MEDITECH, when was the last EKG?” to get their answer back. The system supports (voice) commands for lab results, medications, allergies, radiology images, and more.
Why it matters?
MEDITECH Expanse Virtual Assistant not only frees time for physicians but is also perfectly suited for the COVID-19 pandemic which has increased demand for touchless technology. The technology works without the physician touching the keyboard or mouse.
The solution could also be used in surgical settings, when physicians can access information without having to leave the sterile field in the operating room.
On the record
“MEDITECH continues to drive the industry forward by providing solutions that improve efficiency and reshape the patient experience,” MEDITECH Executive Vice President Helen Waters said in a statement. “In partnership with Nuance, Virtual Assistant technology represents another leap forward in usability and efficiency, ushering in a new era of digital transformation. Physicians can simply ask for what they need from their Expanse EHR and get it.”
“Conversational AI is essential for eliminating the barriers to positive physician-patient interactions, reducing administrative burdens on clinicians and empowering providers to keep patients and successful healthcare outcomes their priority,” added Peter Durlach, Senior Vice President of Strategy and New Business Development, Nuance Healthcare. “We are very excited to expand our decades-long strategic partnership with MEDITECH and deliver this cutting-edge technology to Expanse. Our shared goal is to improve efficiency and increase clinician satisfaction for those who take care of all of us, and enhance the overall provider-patient experience.”
The context
According to the report entitled “Digital Assistants in Healthcare Market – Growth, Trends and Forecasts (2020-2025),” the global digital assistants in the healthcare market is projected to register a CAGR of almost 33.7%, over the forecast period.
The critical factor liable for driving market growth is the growing requirement for automation, the number of users with smart devices is increasing at an increasing rate, which is further anticipated to boost the expansion of digital assistants in the healthcare market worldwide.