Abridge, Epic, and Mayo Clinic have teamed up to develop generative AI tools for nurses, aiming to streamline medical documentation and alleviate some of the burdens on nursing staff. Abridge’s AI, which has been used by doctors for years, will now assist nurses by integrating into Epic’s inpatient nursing workflows. This collaboration, part of the Epic Workshop program, involves Mayo Clinic nurses in designing and testing the technology to ensure it meets their specific needs.
Abridge’s AI converts spoken words into clinical notes in real-time, aiming to increase the speed and accuracy of medical documentation. The technology supports over 14 languages and 50 specialties and has been implemented in several health systems. Abridge recently raised $150 million in a Series C financing round, including an investment from NVIDIA.
“We are engaging them directly in the development of this technology to ensure its use meets the unique needs of nursing and patient care workflows along with regulatory requirements for ambient solutions. We are thrilled to bring the knowledge and expertise of our nursing staff to help shape the future of documentation, where documentation could happen automatically and organically,” said Ryannon Frederick, M.S., R.N., chief nursing officer at Mayo Clinic.
Edwina Bhaskaran, Mayo Clinic’s Chief Clinical Systems and Informatics Officer, stated the goal is to deploy the tool by the end of the year. This collaboration aims to address the high levels of burnout and job dissatisfaction among nurses, exacerbated by staffing shortages and the pandemic.
A 2023 survey by AMN Healthcare found that nearly one-third of nurses are considering leaving their careers due to the pandemic, with staffing shortages negatively impacting patient care. While most nurses have not yet used AI in their roles, there is a recognition of its potential benefits in improving efficiency and supporting technological education.
