FQHC uses suite of AI tools to improve documentation and engagement

AI suite deployed to help doctors and patients: ©Toowongsa - stock.adobe.com

Oak Orchard Health, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving more than 30,000 patients in western New York, has adopted a suite of AI-powered tools from eClinicalWorks to streamline clinical documentation and improve patient engagement.

The 83-provider health system is now using Sunoh.ai, an AI medical scribe, along with several solutions from eClinicalWorks’ healow platform. The technology is delivering measurable results, including time savings, increased provider satisfaction, and enhanced front desk efficiency.

“Sunoh.ai is helping most of our providers complete 100% of their notes by the end of the day,” said Jason Kuder, chief information officer at Oak Orchard Health. “Our providers report that Sunoh.ai’s ability to draft History of Present Illness (HPI) has significantly reduced their mental strain, allowing them to focus more on patient care. Now, providers are saving around one to five minutes per encounter, drastically minimizing the time spent documenting after hours.”

Integrated with the eClinicalWorks electronic health record, Sunoh.ai streamlines clinical documentation and enables near real-time note completion, reducing the burden on providers.

Oak Orchard has also deployed healow CHECK-IN, healow Pay, and Kiosk solutions to further modernize operations. These tools have helped reduce patient wait times and front desk workload while allowing staff to better manage phone calls and patient flow, according to the company.

“The adoption of healow CHECK-IN, healow Pay, and Kiosk has not only enabled our front desk staff to answer more phone calls and better manage patient flow but has also resulted in significant cost savings previously spent on paper,” Kuder said. “We believe that these technological advancements will streamline our operations and significantly improve our patients' experience.”

The health system recently implemented healow Payment Services, giving patients the option to make payments through kiosks and online platforms. This addition aims to simplify the billing experience and reduce friction during the check-in and checkout process.

eClinicalWorks CEO and co-founder Girish Navani praised the partnership: “We are proud to partner with Oak Orchard Health in their quest to provide optimal patient care. Our AI-powered solutions, including the AI-powered medical scribe, Sunoh.ai, are designed to streamline clinical documentation and improve patient-provider interactions.”

Oak Orchard Health operates 11 locations and is recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. The organization provides services that go beyond clinical care, offering transportation assistance, insurance guidance, translation, and flexible payment options to ensure equitable access for its diverse patient population.