TDP 141: Northern Light Health's System CMIO, Dr. Michael Ross: How AI will improve eConsults, Talking with Medical Assistants to determine physician fit for AI Scribes, and How asynchronous patient care will look in the future

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On this episode of The Digital Patient, Dr. Joshua Liu, Co-founder & CEO of SeamlessMD, and marketing colleague, Alan Sardana, chat with Dr. Michael Ross, System CMIO at Optum (supporting Northern Light Health), about "How AI will improve eConsults with contextual summarization, Talking with Medical Assistants to determine physician fit for AI Scribes, How asynchronous patient care will look in the future, and more..." Click the play button to listen or read the show notes below.
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Audio:

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Video:

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Guest(s):

• Dr. Michael Ross, System CMIO at Optum (supporting Northern Light Health)
• Dr. Joshua Liu (@joshuapliu), Co-founder & CEO at SeamlessMD

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‍Episode 141 - Show Notes:

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[00:00:07] Introduction to Dr. Michael Ross, System Chief Medical Information Officer at Optum, supporting Northern Light Health, discussing his career transition from psychology to pediatrics and ultimately to a technology-focused role in healthcare.

[00:00:46] Dr. Ross shares insights on his initial draw to pediatrics, influenced by the birth of his first son and a desire for meaningful patient connections.

[00:01:48] Reflection on his early adoption of technology in medicine, utilizing tools like the PalmPilot and creating more efficient documentation processes during his residency.

[00:03:18] Discussion on the transition from handwritten notes to digital documentation, the challenges of maintaining personal touch in patient care, and the potential implications of AI in medical education and practice.

[00:06:30] Concerns and perspectives on the shift from typing to voice-driven documentation, including the potential loss of detailed clinical reasoning and the necessity of maintaining manual documentation skills.

[00:09:04] Insights into the system-wide implementation of Oracle Cerner at Northern Light Health, highlighting the collaborative efforts and challenges faced during the rollout.

[00:15:09] Exploration of the role of AI in reducing clinicians' administrative burdens and the ongoing evaluations to ensure effective integration of technology into healthcare practices.

[00:19:14] Dr. Ross discusses the strategic approach to adopting new technologies, emphasizing the importance of evaluating multiple solutions to determine the best fit for various specialties within the health system. This includes a careful comparison on levels such as specialty needs and integration capabilities.

[00:19:47] Insights into the role of analytics in healthcare IT, with a focus on how Northern Light Health uses data to inform decisions about technology implementation and adoption. Dr. Ross highlights how analytics help optimize the use of AI virtual scribes and other technologies across the system.

[00:20:36] Discussion on potential high-return applications of AI in healthcare, notably in radiology and population management, while expressing skepticism about the effectiveness of AI-driven patient engagement tools like chatbots.

[00:24:24] Dr. Ross elaborates on the future of telehealth, particularly the benefits of asynchronous care and e-consults in improving access, especially for patients in remote areas. He explains how AI could enhance the e-consult process by summarizing patient data for specialists, potentially reducing barriers to its use.

[00:26:26] Dr. Ross envisions how AI could transform e-consults by assisting in summarizing patient cases for specialists, which could streamline processes and encourage more widespread use of asynchronous digital care models in specialties that rely heavily on diagnostic results.

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Fast 5 Lightning Round:‍

1. Favorite book:
   "The Martian" for its blend of humor, science, and self-reliance, reflecting the qualities important in healthcare informatics.
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2. Person to Meet:
   Neal Peart, drummer and lyricist of the band Rush, and/or Dave Grohl, admired for his representation of Generation X and his impactful musical career.
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3. Preferred Superpower:
   Super speed, to efficiently tackle daily tasks and spend more time with family.
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4. Healthcare Belief:
   The paradox of healthcare's intention to improve yet occasionally complicating patient care, such as the unintended consequences of patient portal notifications.
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5. Last Film or TV Show:
   Live Aid concert in 1985, specifically to see Queen's performance, highlighting a pivotal moment in music history.