Ambient Listening in Clinical Practice: Evaluating EPIC Signal Data Before and After Implementation and Its Impact on Physician Workload.

Journal: Studies in health technology and informatics
Published Date: Aug 7, 2025

Abstract

The widespread adoption of EHRs following the HITECH Act has increased the clinician documentation burden, contributing to burnout. Emerging technologies, such as ambient listening tools powered by generative AI, offer real-time, scribe-like documentation capabilities to reduce physician workload. This study evaluates the impact of ambient listening tools implemented at UCI Health by analyzing EPIC Signal data to assess changes in note length and time spent on notes. Results show significant reductions in note-taking time and an increase in note length, particularly during the first-month post-implementation. Findings highlight the potential of AI-powered documentation tools to improve clinical efficiency. Future research should explore adoption barriers, long-term trends, and user experiences to enhance the scalability and sustainability of ambient listening technology in clinical practice.

Authors

  • Yawen Guo
    Vaccine CMC Development & Supply, Sanofi, Marcy-L' Etoile, France.
  • Di Hu
    Department of General Surgery, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Centre for Child Health, Hangzhou, China.
  • Jiayuan Wang
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada. Electronic address: wang621@uwindsor.ca.
  • Kai Zheng
    University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
  • Danielle Perret
    Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Irvine, CA, USA.
  • Deepti Pandita
    University of California Irvine Health, Laguna Niguel, California (D.P.).
  • Steven Tam
    Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.

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