Study Shows AI Improves Communication Between Physicians and Patients

UC San Diego Health Pioneers AI in Patient Messaging

UC San Diego Health is at the forefront of integrating #generative artificial intelligence ( #GenAI ) to draft responses to patient messages within the #Epic Systems electronic health record. This innovative approach aims to enhance digital healthcare.

Study Highlights

A recent study by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, published on April 15, 2024, in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s Network Open, revealed key findings:

• Relieving Cognitive Burden: AI-generated drafts didn’t reduce doctors' response time but eased their mental load by providing an initial empathetic draft for them to edit.

• Improved Communication Quality: AI-assisted messages were longer and more empathetic, indicating higher quality communication.

• Burnout Reduction: By lessening some workload, AI helps reduce physician burnout, allowing more focus on complex patient care.

Insights from Experts

Dr. Christopher Longhurst, a senior author of the study, emphasized AI's potential in tackling health system challenges, particularly the surge in patient messages contributing to physician burnout. Dr. Ming Tai-Seale, the study's lead author, highlighted AI's role in breaking “writer’s block,” making it easier for doctors to respond thoughtfully to patients.

Addressing Increased Digital Communication

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in digital communications between patients and doctors, increasing the demand for prompt responses. Platforms like MyUCSDChart make it easy for patients to email doctors directly, creating a need for efficient handling of these messages.

Pilot Program with Epic Systems

In April 2023, UC San Diego Health launched a pilot program with Epic Systems to test GenAI for drafting responses to non-emergency patient questions. For transparency, AI-generated replies are labeled before doctors review and sign them.

Benefits for Doctors and Patients

• Empathetic and Detailed Responses: AI helps draft longer, more compassionate replies, appreciated by patients.

• Combating Burnout: AI's consistent assistance helps prevent doctor burnout by providing detailed drafts, even after long workdays.

Future Implications

The study suggests a potential shift in healthcare communication by leveraging AI, though more research is needed to understand how patients perceive the increased empathy and response length.

In summary, UC San Diego Health's use of AI in patient messaging is promising, aiming to improve communication quality and reduce physician burnout, heralding a new era in digital healthcare.

Ongoing Research and Support

UC San Diego Health, with the Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, has been testing GenAI models since May 2023 to explore their safe and effective use in healthcare. This work was supported by the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation and a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Study Contributors

The study was co-authored by several experts from UC San Diego and Stanford, including Sally L. Baxter, Florin Vaida, Amanda Walker, Amy M. Sitapati, Chad Osborne, and Christopher Sharp.

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Journal Reference: Tai-Seale M, Baxter SL, Vaida F, et al. AI-Generated Draft Replies Integrated Into Health Records and Physicians’ Electronic Communication. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(4):e246565. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.6565