A subtle but significant shift is occurring in healthcare: artificial intelligence is reshaping how doctors interact with patients and may already be influencing your next appointment.
Recent surveys indicate that thousands of physicians across the nation are adopting a technology known as ambient listening, a form of AI designed to streamline clinical workflows. This innovation quietly monitors conversations between doctors and patients, generating real-time transcriptions and compiling comprehensive medical notes—all without interrupting the natural flow of the consultation.
Dr. Daniel Kortsch, associate chief of artificial intelligence and digital health at Denver Health, observed a considerable positive impact since his practice integrated this technology in late 2024. He stated, “It really transforms the doctor-patient interaction, allowing them to simply connect and engage as humans.”
At Denver Health, Nabla is the AI tool utilized. With a single click, it begins transcribing the dialogue between physician and patient, offering support for multiple languages, according to Dr. Kortsch. Following the appointment, Nabla produces a detailed summary suitable for inclusion within the patient’s medical record.
The emergence of this innovation arrives at a crucial juncture. The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortfall of between 57,000 and 72,000 physicians in the U.S. this year. This scarcity intensifies workloads, contributing to provider burnout.
How AI is Transforming Healthcare:
- Reduces time spent on administrative tasks, freeing up valuable hours for patient care.
- Minimizes physician burnout by alleviating the burden of extensive paperwork.
- Enhances efficiency and accuracy in medical documentation.
Dr. Kortsch noted a tangible improvement: “We observed that providers using Nabla spent significantly less time working at home—less ‘pajama time’ as we call it.”
Addressing potential patient concerns about AI’s role, technology companies emphasize physician oversight and built-in safeguards.
Kenneth Harper, head of Dragon Copilot at Microsoft, asserted, “Ultimately, the physician remains firmly in control, ensuring that the summary accurately reflects what’s best for the patient.”
Currently, approximately 600 healthcare organizations—located in Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, and Pennsylvania—are leveraging Dragon Copilot, Microsoft’s ambient listening technology.
Microsoft highlights the tool’s benefits: “It promotes clinician well-being, increases efficiency, and improves both provider and patient outcomes through its fast, accurate, secure, and intuitive speech and ambient capabilities.”
Beyond alleviating workload burdens for providers, Kortsch believes patients are also experiencing advantages, including more focused engagement during appointments.
Denver Health plans to expand the use of this technology beyond physicians, with training currently underway for nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and physical therapists. This broader implementation aims to extend these benefits throughout the healthcare system.
“Individuals pursue careers in medicine because they desire that human connection,” Kortsch explained. “Ambient AI facilitates exactly that.”
Projections from the Association of American Medical Colleges indicate a more substantial shortfall, estimating up to 86,000 physicians may be needed by 2036.
