To reduce the burden of rote note taking, Texas Children’s Pediatrics launched a pilot program that used augmented intelligence (AI)—often called artificial intelligence. Members of the first cohort embedded it into their daily practice as a practical everyday tool.
Their forward-thinking embrace of AI is now on its way to transforming how more than 250 pediatricians in over 50 locations throughout the Houston area treat patients, connect with families and provide higher levels of personalized care to both.
The AI system has proven to be an asset to Texas Children’s Pediatrics because it combines conversational, ambient and generative AI to transcribe conversations that include the physician, patient and parent. And from those discussions, it creates specialty-specific clinical summaries.
“AI is here to stay, and I absolutely love it,” declared Desiree Evans, MD, a pediatrician at Texas Children’s Pediatrics. “Used the right way, it truly is going to be a game changer when it comes to patient care and helping families work through different diagnoses and chronic conditions.”
Texas Children's Pediatrics is part of the AMA Health System Member Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
Reclaiming time to build relationships
The benefits of Texas Children’s Pediatrics’ AI rollout include extremely practical solutions for physicians like Dr. Evans. As an early adopter of an AI scribe, spending less time on documentation suits her communication style perfectly.
“I’m very wordy, so my notes would take me forever,” she explained. Now, though, when she enters an exam room, she tells the family that the AI scribe will be recording.
And “as soon as I walk in and hit record, I can actually sit and look at the family and the child and really engage,” Dr. Evans said.
The difference that this use of AI has made to already highly stressed families has been noticeable too.
“We have more face-to-face interactions, and some families feel like I’m with them for a long time,” Dr. Evans said. “In reality, I might spend the same or slightly less time in the room than I used to. It’s just that now that time is truly more focused and meaningful.”
One of the biggest payoffs has been in terms of emotional connection too.
“It has put the human back into the room,” said Shannon Hayes, MD, a Texas Children’s pediatrician, who is delighted at the improved rapport with families. “They’re happy because charting is a burden. I no longer feel like I’m just typing on a computer because now I can turn around and talk directly to them.”
From AI implementation to EHR adoption and usability, the AMA is fighting to make technology work for physicians, ensuring that it is an asset to doctors—not a burden.
Improving chart completion, relieving burnout
Ever-increasing administrative tasks have been a source of stress and a driver of burnout for physicians for a long time.
“I see around 35 patients a day,” said Dr. Hayes. “Most of my time was spent eating a sandwich at my desk, completing morning notes and staying until 6:30 or 7 p.m. to finish those from the afternoon.”
The advent of using AI has changed that, leading to a 50% decrease in the average message review time and a 46% drop in drafting time with the AI pilot.
“I still work through lunch, but now I only have four or five notes left to do instead of the whole morning’s worth,” she said.
It was also routine for her to spend every Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon closing charts and calling parents. Now, however, “I’ve done away with that too. I’m leaving for home at 5:30 p.m. and the decrease in burnout has been significant and life-changing,” said Dr. Hayes, adding with a laugh, “My husband is happy about it too!”
As the leader in physician well-being, the AMA is reducing physician burnout by removing administrative burdens and providing real-world solutions to help doctors rediscover the Joy in Medicine®.
Subscribe to learn how innovative health systems reduce physician burnout.
Encouraging adoption and feedback
The first pilot phase included eight physicians, and 52 are participating in the second pilot phase that is underway now. A monthly lunch meeting allows participants to compare notes, ask questions and troubleshoot any issues.
Additionally, a group email keeps physicians up to date on connectivity issues and provides useful tips for utilizing the technology to their full benefit. And flyers left in exam rooms explain what the AI system is and how it is being used.
The flyer “even has a QR code so they can scan and rate their experience,” Dr. Hayes said. “We want to know what they like and what they don’t.”
AI’s projected expansion in health care has excited the newest generation of physicians. When Dr. Hayes allowed an enthusiastic resident to try the AI tool under her supervision, “She thought it was really cool. These tools are even more appealing to the next generation because they help prioritize work-life balance in ways that we weren’t accustomed to even think about.”
Beyond streamlining workflow, the AI tools include educational benefits. Residents and students are taught how to state diagnoses in family-friendly language through an accompanying app.
“It provides a very short synopsis of tests and results that’s brief, accurate and easy for families to understand,” Dr. Evans explained. “Instead of, ‘This child has Tetralogy of Fallot,’ it simplifies it to something like, ‘Your child has a heart condition. There is a hole in the heart and here is what we need to understand to better help your child and your family.’”
The clarity that comes from such ease of use has had a tangible impact on patients and their caregivers.
“I’ve even had families remind me to use it,” said Dr. Evans. Patient summaries are documented and available through an online portal which helps families remember what was discussed and “it’s helpful that they have access to records and conversations so they can fully understand their options.”
She also noted that transparency creates trust. Dr. Evans explains to families that the AI allows medical information only to be recorded and added directly to a chart.
“It won’t record if I ask how their spouse is doing or compliment their shoes,” she said. After a conversation, she will often turn the screen so that the parent can see that only pertinent health information was captured which, “amazes everyone.”
Expanding AI across care and community
Texas Children’s Pediatrics is exploring other applications for AI other than charting.
“A lot of our parents are using the symptom checker to figure out if they have anything to worry about,” Dr. Evans said. “They’ll call us if things don’t improve, which helps triage and saves time.”
Another area of particular interest to her is using AI to help diagnose autism.
“Underserved areas often have limited access to developmental pediatricians,” she said. “Families wait so long for a diagnosis that they miss the early intervention window.”
Some systems are using AI-based apps into which parents input data that help identify autism early, even without a specialist on hand.
“That’s something I hope will expand throughout Texas and beyond,” said Dr. Evans.
Using AI as a tool, not replacement
While the promising role of AI in health care is growing, the treatment philosophy of Texas Children’s Pediatrics remains grounded in the profound significance of human connection.
“I always emphasize that the people part of medicine is still the most important,” said Dr. Evans. “The best tools a physician has are their stethoscope, their voice and their personality. Couple that with AI technology and we will go far, but we have to remember that AI is a tool, not a replacement.”
Dr. Hayes echoed that sentiment.
“Physician burnout is a much bigger concern right now than being replaced by AI,” Dr. Hayes said. “Nobody I’ve worked with feels threatened. This is just a great tool that helps us be efficient and reclaim lifestyle balance.”
Pediatricians nationwide are stretched thin, and families are dealing with that reality along with the ‘information overload’ that comes from living in an increasingly technologically complex world. Texas Children’s Pediatrics’ AI initiatives are proving to be key in not only improving efficiency and care but strengthening the deep personal relationship between doctors, patients and families, one AI-assisted task at a time.
