Voice-powered tech cuts charting time

Andrew Jurgensmeier, MD

For more than a decade, Andrew Jurgensmeier, MD, a family physician at NKC Health Primary Care – Gashland, spent up to three hours each evening completing patient charts – after already dedicating extra time before clinic and over lunch.

That changed last summer with the introduction of Suki, an artificial intelligence-powered ambient documentation tool that listens during patient visits, generates a draft note and adds them to a patient’s electronic health record.

“Suki has legitimately saved me two hours every day over the past year,” Dr. Jurgensmeier said. “It has been incredible.”

Each encounter begins with patient consent. Suki listens to the conversation, transcribes it and within moments produces a near-complete note. Dr. Jurgensmeier always reviews and finalizes the draft to ensure accuracy.

“There have been times in urgent care where we’ll see 30 to 40 patients in six hours,” Dr. Jurgensmeier said. “When I leave a patient encounter, 30 seconds later my note pops up, and I’m ready to move to the next patient.”

In the rare instance a patient doesn’t want Suki to listen, Dr. Jurgensmeier reverts to his old method of directly dictating the visit’s details after the encounter.

By reducing the documentation burden, clinicians like Dr. Jurgensmeier experience both professional and personal benefits.

“The most meaningful change for me,” Dr. Jurgensmeier said, “is that we’ve been able to gather as a family every night for dinner.”