Dr. Dominik Nowak, President at the Ontario Medical Association, speaks with Ben Blanquera, VP of technology and sustainability at FAIR/Rackspace Technology, in a video interview about the pace of change with AI technologies, key requirements concerning the technology, administrative burden with EMR and AI as a solution, the real customer of AI in healthcare, and leveraging AI to restore joy in clinical work.

Adoption of AI Scribe and the pace of change

Speaking of the pace of change with AI technologies such as AI Scribe and auto referral, Nowak refers to the ongoing work to build out and spread AI Scribe. He notes that two in ten doctors in Ontario are using it, and the number continues to grow.

The need of the moment, says Nowak, is to create awareness and support around the technology for people who are curious but have not tried it yet. Also, the doctors must ensure that these systems are improving patient care as the technology gets better.

Adding on, Nowak lays down his three wishes concerning the technology:

• To ensure that the technology is in every practice and is used by doctors in a way that reduces administrative burden

• Making sure that the solutions being built must be adaptable to change, bearing in mind their future relevancy

• Co-designing the solutions with doctors and patients as they are the ultimate beneficiaries of the technology

Elaborating, Nowak says, “The studies that we have already done say that AI scribe technology saves four hours per week on average for a regular practice.” He adds that doctors have reported saving a day per week of documentation and administrative burden.

Reflecting on the scale of technology change over the years, Nowak says, “In five years, we don’t want to be stuck with today’s technology. We want to make sure that the technology keeps on getting better.”

He shares that the best tech and AI ideas have sprung from teams that have both cutting-edge tech and business people, doctors, and patients working together. Co-designing the solutions is critical to ensure that the technology lands not just in a business sense but also in a clinical sense.

The need for co-designing tech

Sharing a cautionary story, Nowak goes back in time when electronic medical reports (EMRs) replaced paper notes. The doctors, initially excited, now opine that the EMRs have added to the administrative burden, as the technology is significantly outdated.

“We want to make sure that the opportunity we see with AI, in particular, some of these early wins, like AI scribe, are continually being co-designed with doctors,” says Dr. Nowak. He maintains that technologies like AI Scribe are improving patient care, not adding to bureaucratic burden, and staying updated as the technology changes.

Identifying the real customer of AI in healthcare

While co-designing systems, understanding the real customer for AI in healthcare is critical, says Nowak. He maintains that doctors and healthcare professionals should gain from reduced administrative tasks while keeping patients as core beneficiaries.

Beyond that, there are broader stakeholders too. Public health systems, for example, could use clinical-level AI tools to gain a more comprehensive view of community health trends, says Nowak.

There is also potential for AI to help bridge the gap between healthcare and social services, creating stronger connections and more holistic support systems for individuals, he adds.

Restoring joy in clinical work

The biggest benefit from AI in healthcare, according to Nowak, is the restoration of “joy” in healthcare. Explaining further, he states that with AI technologies reducing bureaucratic burden, doctors can focus on what brings them joy and work for better patient care.

Wrapping up, Nowak expresses the need to build technologies that remain relevant in the future as well, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers. Reiterating the 19 hours of red tape that is stretching the doctors thin, he recommends ensuring that the technology adds to joy and fulfilling clinical work.

CDO Magazine appreciates Dr. Dominik Nowak for sharing his insights with our global community.