The new tool aims to streamline documentation and improve clinician-patient interactions in healthcare settings.
Category: Health
This week, Epic Systems announced the launch of AI Charting, a built-in feature that listens during patient visits, drafts the clinician’s notes, and queues up orders based on the conversation. This innovative tool is part of Epic's broader efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare, transforming the care experience for clinicians, patients, and health systems.
According to Epic, AI Charting helps clinicians focus on their patients rather than getting bogged down in documentation. Clinicians report that by handling documentation work in real time, the tool allows them to capture a more complete record of the visit, reducing their workload after the patient leaves the room and fostering stronger connections between patients and clinicians. “Our developers worked closely on site with physicians across many specialties as we created AI Charting,” said Corey Miller, Vice President of R&D at Epic. “Feedback has been very positive, and we’re iterating quickly based on what clinicians tell us works best.”
AI Charting is part of Art, Epic’s AI for clinicians. In addition to drafting visit notes and recommending orders based on clinician-patient conversations, the initial release allows clinicians to personalize the structure of both current and future notes using voice commands. For example, clinicians can ask to format the history of present illness as a bulleted list, which can facilitate quicker and clearer documentation.
The introduction of AI Charting comes at a time when the adoption of Epic's Art features is rapidly increasing. For example, Art’s Insights feature, which aggregates information from across patient charts into concise summaries, is now used over 16 million times each month—a nearly threefold increase since November 2025.
Epic’s AI capabilities are not limited to clinical documentation. For hospital operations and revenue cycles, Epic has introduced Penny, an AI tool that automates professional billing coding. Currently, over 200 organizations are using Penny, with many reporting a more than 20% reduction in coding-related denials. For medical necessity denial appeals, letters are created 23% faster, which helps organizations receive payments more quickly for the care they provide.
Epic has also expanded its AI capabilities for patients through Emmie, which provides conversational assistance within MyChart and via text messaging. Emmie helps patients schedule appointments, understand bills, make payments, and set up payment plans. By consolidating relevant account details, Emmie can clarify why patients owe certain amounts. This functionality has led to a decrease in billing-related customer service messages, allowing staff to focus on more complex cases that require human intervention.
“When needed, Emmie can escalate patients to a live chat with a staff member,” Epic noted in their announcement. The integration of these AI capabilities directly into Epic’s software means they draw from comprehensive medical records, offering insights grounded in the patient's entire health history.
The introduction of AI Charting aligns with a growing trend in healthcare where ambient AI technologies are being adopted to improve clinician efficiency and patient care. For example, ambient AI scribes, which record conversations during patient visits, are being hailed as a game-changer for freeing physicians from the burden of documentation. These tools allow doctors to focus entirely on patient interactions, potentially reducing burnout and the amount of after-hours work required.
In a recent visit, Jeannine Urban experienced firsthand how an ambient AI scribe improved her appointment. Instead of typing notes during her checkup, her doctor used an AI scribe that provided a thorough and organized clinical note summarizing her concerns and the physician's responses. “The scribe made sure we didn’t miss anything,” Urban said, highlighting the positive impact of these technologies on patient care.
As AI technologies like Epic's AI Charting and ambient scribes gain traction, questions remain about their long-term effects on patient care and clinician workload. Critics point out potential issues such as the accuracy of AI-generated notes and the risk of over-reliance on technology. Studies indicate that AI-generated notes can sometimes contain inaccuracies, which raises concerns about the quality of patient care.
“Does the use of ambient AI scribes improve patient care and health outcomes?” one expert asked. “Will doctors use the time they gain to improve the quality of the time they spend with their patients or just boost the number of patients they see?” These questions will require careful consideration as healthcare systems increasingly incorporate AI into their workflows.
Nevertheless, the potential benefits of AI in healthcare are substantial. With tools like AI Charting and ambient AI scribes, the healthcare industry is witnessing a shift that could lead to more efficient documentation processes, improved patient experiences, and enhanced clinician satisfaction. As technology continues to evolve, the focus will remain on ensuring that these tools support rather than replace the human element of care.
Epic's AI Charting is just one part of a larger movement toward integrating AI into healthcare. As adoption grows, the company plans to expand its AI capabilities even more, with over 100 additional AI use cases currently in development. “It’s so much bigger than a scribe,” Gerhart stated, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of these tools and their potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery.
As the healthcare industry continues to navigate these changes, the integration of AI into clinical workflows promises to redefine the patient care experience, potentially leading to a healthier future for both patients and providers alike.