The core mission of healthcare technology is to enable clinicians and enhance patient care. Yet, a persistent challenge remains: how do we transform the vast ocean of patient data within our electronic health records (EHRs) into actionable insights at the point of care, without adding to the already significant burden on our clinical teams? Clinicians often ask that the EHR help them with performing routine tasks more efficiently. Initially ambient listening was targeted for more efficient documentation. The next frontier lies in moving beyond voice capture to true data mining and synthesis that delivers tangible time savings.

Empowering clinicians by design

We all recognize the dilemma: critical patient information often lies buried under countless clicks, making it elusive when needed most. While the volume of data continues to grow exponentially, the real test for our EHR systems is their ability to make this data intuitive, accessible and genuinely supportive. Clinicians deserve systems that empower them to dedicate more time to direct patient interaction, rather than navigating complex interfaces. Studies consistently highlight the impact of EHR design on clinician well-being; for instance, research has shown that clerical burden associated with EHRs is a significant contributor to physician burnout (Shanafelt et al., 2017). Further, primary care physicians spend a substantial portion of their workday interacting with the EHR, often outside of direct patient contact (Arndt et al., 2017).

Usability matters

Imagine a clinical environment where finding patient data is effortless, where intuitive workflows seamlessly integrate safety protocols without sacrificing efficiency. This vision is rapidly becoming a reality through the power of Artificial Intelligence, particularly via AI companions and chatbots. These intelligent assistants are not merely tools. They are evolving into integral members of the care team, meticulously designed to enhance EHR usability by:

• Minimizing clicks: Moving beyond cumbersome, menu-driven navigation to more direct, intent-driven interactions.
• Contextualizing information: Surfacing on-demand data tailored precisely to the user’s current task and the patient’s unique clinical context.
• Learning and adapting: ‘Remembering’ individual clinician preferences and evolving with their needs over time, creating a personalized experience.
• Delivering actionable insights: Providing context-specific alerts, best practice guidance and predictive insights directly within existing platforms, reducing cognitive load.

It is crucial to emphasize that an AI companion will never replace the invaluable judgment, empathy, and critical thinking of a clinician. Instead, it serves as a powerful assistant, augmenting advanced knowledge and enabling us to integrate AI-driven insights into patient care plans in a profoundly meaningful way. This synergy promises to elevate patient outcomes and redefine operational efficiency.

Bringing it all together

The benefits are clear: enhanced workflow efficiency, rapid access to critical insights and best practice guidance, more informed decision-making through comprehensive patient data summaries, and the ability to execute quick actions on command. Of course, this transformative journey isn’t without its complexities. We must thoughtfully navigate the intricacies of the EHR landscape, address legitimate concerns around data security, develop sustainable cost models, and ensure the foundational accuracy and reliability of AI algorithms. These are not insurmountable roadblocks, but rather exciting opportunities for innovation and collaborative problem-solving across the medical and technological communities.

This is a call to action

We are rapidly accelerating on this AI journey, and the horizon is incredibly promising. Later in 2026, Altera will release our very own AI-driven companion: Sunrise™ Pulse AI.

Sunrise Pulse AI is designed to be there for clinicians when they need it most, whether it’s effortlessly finding data, executing quick actions, or synthesizing information across multiple sources and encounters to provide a holistic patient view.

AI is not merely a trend. It is the future of usability in healthcare. This is a call to action for all of us—clinicians, informaticists and technology developers— to become thought leaders in this evolving space. Let’s explore, innovate and collectively shape how AI companions can best serve our patients and our noble profession.

References:

Arndt, B. G., Beasley, J. W., Watkinson, M. D., Temte, J. L., Tuan, W. J., Sinsky, C. A., & Gilchrist, V. J. (2017). Tethered to the EHR: Primary Care Physician Workload Assessment Using EHR Event Log Data and Time-Motion Observations. Annals of Family Medicine, 15(5), 419–426.

Shanafelt, T. D., Dyrbye, L. N., Sinsky, C. A., Hasan, O., Satele, D. V., Sloan, J. A., & West, C. P. (2017). Relationship Between Clerical Burden and Burnout in U.S. Physicians. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 92(12), 1821–1830.