By Craig Norquist, MD, chief medical information officer

New physician and APP engagement informaticist

Brandon Martinez has transitioned into a new role as a physician and APP engagement informaticist. Many of you may already know Brandon from his previous position as an IT trainer supporting Epic and other digital tools.

In his new role, he will continue much of that work while also focusing on building stronger relationships with physicians and APPs and identifying new ways to optimize the use of technology in care delivery. While we’re currently strategizing how to best leverage his specialized skill set, we welcome your ideas and suggestions. Please feel free to reach out to him directly.

SmartUser and physician builder programs

We’re working to increase the number of physicians and APPs who become Epic SmartUsers or physician builders.

By completing these certification courses, you can improve your efficiency and serve as a resource for colleagues. Certified participants will also receive early access to new tools to support safe and constructive implementation.

To enroll:

• Type “efficiency” into the Epic search bar
• Log in to the Epic UserWeb training page and search for available courses
• Reach out to an informaticist or me directly for registration assistance

AI tools in Epic

With the upcoming Epic upgrade, many AI tools will be available to all users. These tools were first tested internally with SmartUser and builder pilot groups and are now ready for broader use.

We expect ongoing improvements, and your feedback is essential. Most features include a thumbs-up/down option with space for comments. This is the easiest way to report issues or share input. All feedback is regularly reviewed.

What’s new:

• Improved InBasket prioritization and filtering
• AI-assisted draft responses for patient messages
• Faster chart navigation, summaries and search
• Smarter dashboards and tools for data use

Abridge: Ambient documentation updates

We’ve been live with ambient notes for nearly two months, with strong adoption across nearly 500 physicians and APPs. Overall usage has been excellent.

We’re continuing to refine workflows and will provide more frequent updates and training resources.

Important reminder: Patient consent

• Always inform patients when recording and obtain consent each time (especially for new patients)
• Framing matters. Patients are often more receptive when you explain the benefit (e.g., helping you focus on them while the tool captures notes)
• This is critical, as there are ongoing legal cases related to lack of proper consent

Adoption and access

• We’re monitoring usage to ensure licenses are actively used
• There are currently around 200 more clinicians interested in access
• Future expansion will depend on demonstrated value and need

Tips for best use

• Use up-to-date note templates, SmartPhrases and macros
• Spend time refining workflows for better results
• The tool can also generate patient-specific discharge instructions

Coming soon

• Improved coding support and justification
• Ability to suggest/order tests mentioned during visits
• Integration with UpToDate for evidence-based guidance

UpToDate AI

UpToDate AI will be available in early May to all HonorHealth users.

• Single sign-on (SSO) is planned but not yet available
• The AI feature will be integrated directly into UpToDate

What to keep in mind

• As with any generative AI tool, verify outputs and review sources
• More specific prompts will lead to better results

We look forward to your feedback as you begin using this tool.

Highlights from the April 22 CTEC meeting

The Clinician Technology Experience Council (CTEC) held its second meeting of the year on Wednesday, April 22. The session featured Microsoft expert Charles Ralston, who shared tips for maximizing Microsoft Teams, Copilot and Outlook.

A recording of the session and AI-generated summary notes are available here: Recap: CTEC Meeting. The next CTEC meeting will take place in June. Please submit any topics or issues for future discussion to me or an informaticist.

Upcoming: EHR Experience Survey (KLAS Arch Collaborative)

Our annual EHR Experience Survey will launch soon as part of the KLAS Arch Collaborative. To respect your time, we’re reviewing the survey to remove redundant questions that may already be covered in other organizational surveys, like the Physician and APP Engagement Survey or Culture of Safety Survey.

Your feedback plays a critical role in helping us understand what matters most in your experience with EHR and clinical technology, and in guiding improvement efforts. The creation of the physician engagement informaticist role is one example of prior survey feedback in action.

We also hope to better understand preferred communication methods, including the option to provide alternative email addresses or text messaging as a preferred channel for updates.

Skip the wait: Dedicated IT Service Desk line available for physicians and APPs

When calling, press * for priority support. This line is designed for physicians and APPs to avoid delays impacting patient care.

Call the IT Service Desk at 480-882-4357.