Physician-led implementation drives AI success in urology

In a recent interview, Henry C. Wright IV, MD, and Jennifer Miles-Thomas, MD, URPS, MBA, highlighted Northwestern Medicine Urology’s successful integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology into clinical practice, emphasizing its transformative impact on both physicians and patients.

Wright described Northwestern’s partnership with Microsoft and DAX to implement an AI-powered scribe system that listens to patient visits and generates clinical documentation. This innovation reduces the time and administrative burden associated with note-taking, allowing urologists to focus more fully on patient interactions. For physicians, the tool has proven to be a time saver, workload reducer, and stress reliever. For patients, the benefit is clear: Their physician’s attention remains on them rather than a computer screen. Initially tested by a select group of physicians, including Wright and Miles-Thomas as representatives for urology, the pilot demonstrated strong satisfaction and is now available system-wide to all providers who wish to adopt it.

Miles-Thomas emphasized the importance of Northwestern’s thoughtful implementation strategy. The process began with a small pilot group who provided real-time feedback during meetings. As the program expanded, early users served as peer supporters to guide adoption across the institution. She noted that this collaborative, iterative approach—grounded in shared learning rather than relying solely on formal instructions—was critical to the initiative’s success.

Particularly in a high-volume specialty like urology, ensuring accuracy in documentation is essential. Miles-Thomas underscored the value of incorporating feedback from multiple providers to capture the nuances of complex patient conversations. This comprehensive engagement allowed Northwestern to fine-tune the technology and execute the rollout effectively.

Together, the physicians framed the AI scribe system as a prime example of innovation enhancing efficiency, reducing physician burnout, and ultimately improving the patient experience.