BayCare Health System has launched a pilot program integrating artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted voice technology to streamline clinical documentation for nurses. The initiative, currently underway at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, aims to reduce administrative burdens and enhance patient care by enabling real-time, voice-enabled documentation.
The pilot features Aiva Health’s Nurse Assistant, an AI-powered solution designed to help nurses record clinical assessments and retrieve patient information through voice commands. This effort underscores BayCare’s commitment to leveraging innovative technologies that improve both patient outcomes and healthcare worker efficiency.
Addressing the Documentation Burden
A BayCare nurse at St. Anthony’s Hospital demonstrates new AI-assisted voice technology on her phone to a patient resting in a hospital bed.
Clinical documentation is a time-intensive process that can divert nurses’ attention from direct patient care. BayCare’s new AI-powered system allows nurses to dictate notes and updates using voice commands on BayCare-issued iPhones. The spoken data is transcribed in real time, displayed on-screen for verification, and then securely stored in the patient’s electronic health record (EHR). By minimizing manual documentation, this approach aims to decrease cognitive overload and improve workflow efficiency.
Stephanie Conners, president and CEO of BayCare, emphasized the significance of this innovation: “We are excited to be at the forefront of how technology can improve healthcare, not just for patients, but also for those nurses and team members delivering care. Finding ways to better support clinical documentation is a win for everyone involved and allows nurses and our entire care teams more time and energy to focus on our patients.”
Enhancing Clinical Efficiency and Accuracy
Traditional hospital documentation processes involve multiple caregivers inputting data into EHRs, often requiring computers to be moved between patient rooms. The Aiva Health system eliminates this step, allowing nurses to update records in real time without disrupting their workflow. This approach fosters improved communication among care teams, as timely and accurate documentation is critical for high-quality patient care.
Nicole Gitney, vice president for nursing informatics at BayCare, highlighted the potential impact of voice-enabled AI at the bedside: “Bringing voice-enabled artificial intelligence to the bedside will not only save nurses’ time but also has the potential to improve the efficiency and efficacy of patient care. By simplifying documentation and reducing cognitive overload, this technology aims to improve nurse satisfaction and allow them to focus more on improving patient outcomes.”
Real-Time Implementation and Early Benefits
Launched in December, the St. Anthony’s Hospital pilot involves a select group of nurses and patient care technicians using the Aiva Health app. Early results indicate the technology is reducing time spent on documentation and minimizing the need for nurses to manage computer workstations while providing bedside care.
Liza Redmond, a nurse manager in the hospital’s cardiac medical unit, sees the program as transformative: “The nurses and the patient care techs will be able to go into a patient room and chart in real time using their voice and the artificial-intelligence-assisted technology. Being able to use this voice technology is a game changer for everyone in health care.”
Future Expansion and Integration
While the current pilot is focused on voice-assisted documentation, BayCare is collaborating with additional technology vendors to refine and expand its AI-driven initiatives. The long-term goal is to integrate AI-powered tools across various aspects of patient care, including remote monitoring and clinical decision support.
Aiva Health’s voice technology is already deployed in more than 10,000 acute and post-acute care rooms across North America. In addition to enhancing documentation, the system has the potential to integrate with hospital services such as interpreter support, dietary management, and patient education.
BayCare’s Ongoing Innovation Commitment
BayCare has previously adopted AI-assisted software for physician documentation, but the transition to hospital-based nursing presents unique challenges due to the collaborative nature of inpatient care. With multiple care providers assessing and monitoring patients throughout their hospital stay, seamless documentation and data-sharing are crucial.
By piloting AI-enabled voice technology, BayCare is positioning itself as a leader in healthcare innovation, continually exploring new ways to support clinicians and improve patient experiences. The success of this initiative could set a precedent for broader adoption of AI-driven clinical tools in hospitals nationwide.
For more information on BayCare’s technology initiatives, visit BayCare.org.
