BY TRICIA BRISBOIS, CEO/FOUNDER, TJB CONSULTING
Artificial Intelligence (AI) — and more specifically, Ambient AI, where AI operates quietly in the background — has quickly become one of the most talked-about innovations in health care. As Electronic Health Record (EHR) vendors fold AI functionality
into their platforms and future roadmaps, practices are seeing firsthand how intelligent automation can reshape daily workflows, documentation, and patient engagement. But with every new shiny technological carrot comes a moment of hesitation. Many
providers are asking: Should I take the next step and embrace AI?
The more significant question, however, may be: What happens if you don’t?
The Documentation Burden
The documentation load on clinicians has long been a concern. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that physicians spend an average of 1.77 hours outside of regular office hours completing documentation
tasks. Other studies have found that these administrative demands are among the leading causes of clinician burnout and attrition.
The promise of Ambient AI lies in its ability to capture and summarize clinical conversations directly within the EHR, allowing providers to focus on the patient rather than the keyboard. By automating repetitive tasks such as charting, notes, and encounter
documentation, AI can reclaim valuable time for physicians — time that can be redirected to patient care, care coordination, or even personal well-being.
AI Is Not Just for the Exam Room: Supporting Front Office Operations
While most of the attention around AI in health care has centered on clinical documentation, the potential for AI-driven efficiency extends far beyond the exam room. Front office staff — often the backbone of any practice — stand to benefit greatly from
intelligent automation as well.
Modern AI tools are being developed to support fax and document management, a time-consuming area for many practices. With the volume of referrals, prior authorizations, lab reports, and patient correspondence still flowing through fax, AI-enabled systems
can now read, route, and categorize incoming faxes automatically. These solutions can identify the sender, determine document type, and assign the file to the appropriate queue or patient chart — significantly reducing manual effort and error rates.
AI can also assist in appointment scheduling, insurance verification, and patient communication, ensuring front office staff are not bogged down by repetitive tasks. Instead, they can focus on delivering higher-value services, such as proactive patient
engagement and improved coordination with clinical teams.
Balancing Innovation and Sensibility
The decision to adopt AI — whether for clinical or administrative functions — should be about improving efficiency, data integrity, and the quality of patient care. Practices that approach AI thoughtfully will likely see measurable benefits.
It’s equally important to remember that AI works best in collaboration with human expertise, not in place of it. Physicians, billers, and front office teams bring clinical judgment, empathy, and context that an algorithm cannot replace. The most successful
implementations are those that strengthen a person’s capability, allowing staff to operate at the top of their license and focus on work that requires critical thinking and personal interaction.
Helping Explore Practices Options
At TJB Consulting, we take a vendor-neutral and operationally grounded approach to AI integration. Our goal is to help practices evaluate the right tools for their workflows, ensuring technology works with the team — not against it. Whether it’s
exploring Ambient AI documentation solutions or leveraging AI for front office automation, we help identify what’s practical, compliant, and sustainable.
As health care continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: AI is not a passing trend — it’s an operational advantage. Practices that adopt it strategically will be better positioned to enhance efficiency, improve provider satisfaction, and strengthen
patient relationships.
The question isn’t whether AI will shape the future of health care. It already is. The real question is whether your practice will take the leap — or risk being left behind.
