UofM - WKTV Journal

University of Michigan Health – West Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Lance M. Owens discusses patient care while the Dragon Ambient eXperience program takes notes. (Supplied)

University of Michigan Health-West (formerly Metro Health – University of Michigan Health) is the first system in the state to pilot automated documentation in the exam room, allowing health providers to focus on the patient rather than the computer.

The AI-powered Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX) is an ambient clinical intelligence solution that captures and contextualizes every word of the patient encounter and automatically creates clinical documentation.

The pilot at University of Michigan Health-West began earlier this year with 13 providers, throughout primary and specialty care settings.

“We have already discovered multiple advantages to suggest that Nuance DAX could become a transformative innovation for our organization,” said Dr. Lance M. Owens, Chief Medical Information Officer, who is leading the pilot. “This technology captures documentation automatically and removes the computer as a barrier between providers and their patients and enables better patient- provider engagement. It is yet another way we are relentlessly pursuing our vision to deliver innovations that change care and care that changes lives.”

University of Michigan Health – West Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Lance M. Owens has been leading the pilot on ai-powered documentation. (Supplied)

“University of Michigan Health-West is a model for the deep partnerships needed to transform healthcare delivery and empower physicians with the advanced technology they need to provide personalized patient care,” said Diana Nole, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Nuance Healthcare. “Nuance DAX works seamlessly in the background unlocking the physician from the burden of administrative tasks and enables them to focus solely on the patient. This was our vision when introducing Nuance DAX, and now, together with our customers like the University of Michigan Health-West, we are bringing that vision to life by delivering an enhanced patient-provider experience.”

In initial surveys at pilot sites, when asked to compare their visit to previous healthcare encounters, patients overwhelmingly agreed with several performance indicators, stating:

“My visit felt more like a personable conversation.”
“The provider seemed to be more focused on me during the visit.”
“The provider spent less time typing on their computer.”

“The benefit to patients is becoming readily apparent,” Owen said. “By reducing the documentation burden, we allow providers to focus on delivering the best care for their patients and stronger patient-provider relationship.”

After using Nuance DAX, one University of Michigan Health-West provider saw a decrease in 31 minutes per day in documentation. Another provider saw an average reduction of 5 minutes of documentation time per appointment. One particularly efficient provider decreased time per note from two minutes to 1.9 minutes, totaling a significant decrease in documentation time overall. In addition to helping providers stay on schedule and spend more time with patients, the system improves accuracy and thoroughness of documentation because providers don’t have to divide their attention between patient and computer.

“As we continue to track key metrics during the pilot, we plan to roll out the system for all primary care physicians over the next year,” Owens said. “We see potential to expand for specialty use, in the Emergency Department and nursing settings in the near future.”

For more about University of Michigan Health-West and its innovation initiatives, please visit www.uofmhealthwest.org.

Metro Health – University of Michigan Health has changed its name to University of Michigan Health-West. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

With nearly five years of expanding achievements, technology, and capabilities as an affiliate of the University of Michigan Health, Metro Health officials announced that the facility will adopt a a new name, University of Michigan Health-West.

“The new name is a natural next step and our teams are proud of the role we play as part of one of the world’s most respected health systems,” said CEO Dr. Peter Hahn.

Peter Hahn, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Metro Health – University of Michigan Health (Supplied)

The new name was unanimously approved by the Metro Health Board of Directors on June 8, 2021.

“As we have done at every stage in our history, we must ensure our name reflects our expanding capabilities,” said Bill Barkeley, Chairman of the Metro Health Board of Directors. “This is one of the most significant points in our trajectory. Our name should reflect this.”

Recent accomplishments include development of a comprehensive stroke center, authorization for an open-heart surgery partnership, and back-to-back top ratings for safety.

“This new name is a better reflection of how this affiliation has grown and signals our path forward,” said Marschall S. Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine, Dean of the U-M Medical School and Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs for the University of Michigan. “We know that our continued close collaboration, partnerships and expansion of care will benefit the patients of West Michigan. We are proud of where this affiliation has led us and excited about the future.”

Hahn said the affiliation works because it combines the power of one of the world’s most respected academic medical centers with over a century of teaching, research, and patient care – with a nearly 80-year legacy of caring, innovation and progressive health care in West Michigan.

“This is exactly what our founding physicians envisioned when they launched a hospital in a remodeled house back in 1942,” Hahn said. “They wanted to find better ways to focus on patients. For every phase of our history and every name on the front door, that is what we have done.”

Founded as Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital, the organization was renamed several times: Metropolitan Hospital, Metro Health and, most recently, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health. Each change reflected a significant transition or advancement.

“None of the transitions has been more significant than our affiliation with University of Michigan Health,” Hahn said. “Our shared values of caring, innovation, inclusion, integrity and teamwork pay respect to our heritage and set the tone for our future serving West Michigan.”

The name change, which will be phased over the next 12 months, reflects not just a closer clinical and operational integration, but also greater alignment in mission, vision and values. The organization’s regional focus will remain governed by a local board of directors.

“The board of directors respects the distinguished history of this organization,” said Metro Health Hospital Board Member Steve Van Andel. “A significant part of that history has been Metro’s ability to innovate while keeping patient care at the forefront. The new name proudly honors that legacy.”