AI Technologies Like Ambient Listening Proving to be a ‘Game Changer” at Emory Healthcare

As the healthcare industry embraces digital transformation, Emory Healthcare stands out for its strategic and innovative technology solutions. In this interview, Scott Smiser, CTO of Emory Healthcare, shares insights into Emory’s approach to digital transformation, the potential of AI and ambient listening, and the role of cloud migration in preparing for a more flexible and scalable future.

Watch or listen to the full interview below, or subscribe to healthsystemCIO on your favorite podcasting channel.

AI’s Role in Enhancing Care and Clinician Productivity

AI technology in healthcare has garnered significant attention. Yet not all emerging technologies are equally impactful across industries. Smiser notes how AI differs from previous overhyped technologies like blockchain, especially in its tangible, system-wide applications across healthcare. “I feel like AI is a little bit different in that the applicability in the use cases around how AI could be applied within the continuum of care… it completely [covers] the healthcare setting.” Emory’s focus on AI goes beyond implementing technology for technology’s sake. Emory aims instead for specific solutions that support caregivers and reduce the burdens on healthcare staff.

One area where AI has shown transformative potential is in ambient listening technology. Ambient listening, an AI-powered solution that transcribes and assists with documentation, has had a remarkable impact on clinicians’ lives. “There’s not a time that I don’t round in the facilities or interact with doctors that say, ‘This has changed my life.”  He highlighted how this technology reduces what is known as “pajama time,” where clinicians work late hours completing documentation. Ambient listening allows caregivers time to focus more on patient interactions and maintain a better work-life balance.

AI as a Partner in the Patient Journey

Emory’s strategic approach to AI underscores the importance of identifying where technology can have the most significant impact on patient care. Ambient listening enables doctors to take on more patients without increasing their workload. Smiser cited Alistair Erskine, MD, Enterprise Chief Information & Digital Officer, Emory Healthcare, who observes that doctors using ambient listening are able to see approximately two additional patients per day. This kind of productivity increase is beneficial in specialties with long patient wait times.

AI is also supporting clinicians by integrating with Emory’s EMR (Epic) to streamline documentation and enhance clinical workflows. “I look at AI from the standpoint of how do we really wrap that around the EMR experience…not just for the docs but for the nurses and the frontline workers who are interacting with patients,” Smiser says. The goal is creating seamless, AI-enhanced workflows and prioritizing direct patient care. By using AI, Emory is aligning with a goal of reducing clinician burnout while enhancing the quality of patient care.

Strategic Cloud Migration to Enable Flexibility and Resilience

While AI offers Emory ways to improve daily operations, cloud migration plays a critical role in the broader digital transformation. As Emory transitions its primary and disaster recovery data centers to the cloud, it aims to improve system resilience, security, and scalability. “We’re dispositioning everything into the cloud…while rolling down the road at a hundred miles an hour,” Smiser explains. This ambitious project reflects Emory’s commitment to creating a more flexible and responsive IT infrastructure to support the evolving needs of healthcare.

For large healthcare systems, moving to the cloud is not merely an IT decision, it is an operational strategy. Cloud migration provides scalability that allows Emory to adjust resources based on demand.  This ensures that they are well-prepared for unexpected surges in patient care needs or other emer...