Barti announced the launch of AI ambient listening and transcription technology in its EHR product to enable hands-free charting for optometrists. Barti’s EHR (electronic health records) and Practice Management platform is the first in the optometry industry to deploy native AI-assisted charting.
The introduction of AI into patient charts sets a new standard for efficiency with provider documentation, which currently consumes almost 50% of an eye care provider’s day. Barti’s newest innovation allows providers to generate accurate medical notes with the press of a record button. Built directly into the Barti EHR, the integration saves time and enhances the patient-doctor connection. Without a screen between them and their patients, doctors can spend more time on providing care and less on clicking.
“Working with software tools that are decades-old, many optometrists today suffer 100+ clicks to document a single routine vision exam. With Barti’s AI, ultimately we can bring that down to 2 or 3.'' said Colton Calandrella, co-founder and CEO at Barti. “This directly delivers on our mission of helping optometrists spend more time with patients and less time clicking.”
Based on deployment across other sectors of healthcare, the incorporation of AI-driven transcription has already brought significant benefits for both doctors and their patients.
- Time savings: AI reduces charting time by 2 hours per day per doctor
- Precision: 96%+ of the AI-generated text is deemed accurate by providers
- Thoroughness: Charts are 2.5x more detailed than manual entry
The transcription begins with consent from the patient and the click of the record button by the optometrist. The AI directly captures, structures, and summarizes key information in real-time during patient consultations, filtering for relevant details to create concise documentation of each patient appointment. Providers can then review and finalize the chart in a fraction of the time it typically takes. The extra time savings have been used to lift patient visits by up to 30% in some clinics leveraging this technology, while others have been able to lighten the cognitive load for providers.
Barti views this initial AI integration as just the beginning of an ambitious roadmap to incorporate AI throughout their EHR and Practice Management software. “Integrating AI into the exam is only the first step towards fully transforming how eye care providers manage their business and interact with patients," Calandrella said. “For too long, the vision industry has been a laggard with software - now, it’s coming to the forefront.”