AI tools promise to save you time, but only if your EHR can actually keep up with them.
Before you add a scribe or automation feature, it helps to check a few basics first.
Is your EHR cloud-based? AI needs to read and update your records in real time. If your system still lives on an office server, things may lag or simply not connect.
Are your notes organized, not just typed out? AI works best when information like diagnoses and exam findings sits in clear fields, not buried in free-text paragraphs or scanned pages.
Can it talk to other tools? A good EHR should let AI features plug in directly instead of requiring you to copy and paste between systems.
Is your data protected? Look for things like secure logins and encryption. Adding new tools means adding more doors, so make sure they all lock.
Will your vendor tell you how AI uses your data? If they cannot answer clearly, that is worth a second look.
Check these boxes, and you are ready to explore utilizing AI in your EHR with confidence.
AI in 60 Seconds is a new Insight Media series written by AI expert Ukti Vora—each regular installment offers quick, easy-to-implement tips to help eye care professionals enhance practice excellence by putting artificial intelligence to work.