Interest in and adoption of AI across industries has accelerated in the last few years, and the healthcare industry is no exception. But not enough attention is being paid to methodically evaluating its impact on end users. Together with MEDITECH and Google, Mile Bluff Medical Center (MBMC) collaborated on a recently published study highlighting how AI-based features, incorporated directly into the EHR, have improved the clinician experience.
As a practicing Physician Assistant (PA), I know firsthand how much of a provider’s day is spent in the EHR and how many end users are frustrated with the time-consuming and labor-intensive nature of many EHR tasks. Healthcare organizations are seeking to address this issue with the deployment of AI-based enhancements, but they often overlook a crucial element — user-centered evaluation.
Beginning in January of 2024, MBMC initiated a five-month study to evaluate the impact of Expanse Navigator in the EHR. Nearly 130 end users at our organization participated in the clinical pilot, assessing MEDITECH’s AI-powered search and summarization tool powered by Google Health, and exploring how user-centered methods can support the rollout of AI-based clinical tools.
By adopting an approach that hinges on end-user feedback and provider insight, we saw significant improvements in user satisfaction, usefulness, and time savings. High adoption and positive user experiences stemmed from close collaboration with our partners and end users, rapid feedback integration, and tailored training — offering a proven framework for future AI implementation in healthcare.
I'm proud to be part of a community hospital like Mile Bluff Medical Center that continues to embrace innovation. Our collaboration with MEDITECH and Google shows what can happen when the right partners and resources come together around a common goal — proving that true innovation happens when people remain at the center.
Read the full study to learn more about leveraging a user-centered framework for implementing and evaluating AI-based tools and discover the impact of MEDITECH’s Expanse Navigator.
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