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Ambulatory surgery updates save time and improve efficiency

May 06, 2024
by Elisabeth Reitman

R Peter Manes, MD, associate professor of surgery (otolaryngology), shared three recent Yale Medicine initiatives to optimize clinical ambulatory practice.

Access 365 will address common challenges around patient access including ratios of new patients to return patients, length of appointment times, and chronic no-show patients. The goal is to create standards and best practices to enhance services for patients.

The second initiative will focus on individual Epic workflow optimization through a program called Space to Care. Each division will have an assigned physician champion who will work one-on-one to solve challenges and improve workflows. For example, if a surgeon orders a routine imaging study for a common condition, the user can create a shortcut to automatically populate the reason.

The third initiative employs ambient listening technology to make documentation easier and more efficient. Bridge Ambient Intelligence is a pilot program that uses artificial intelligence to automate note generation. The program is currently being tested by early adopters in the department. These users will work closely with administrators and provide constructive feedback.

Submitted by Elisabeth Reitman on May 17, 2024