During a September webinar co-hosted with Becker’s Hospital Review, Becker’s Hospital Review editor Erica Carbajal moderated a discussion focused on one of healthcare’s most critical challenges: the Clinical Insights Gap.
Health systems are grappling with an insights dilemma. Despite the vast amounts of patient health data clinicians are only able to access and act on a small fraction, with the rest tucked away deep within the EHR. This gap leaves vital information, such as potential diagnoses or medication interactions, buried within digital records.
Nate Wilson, COO and Cofounder of Regard, was joined by Dr. Marcus Romanello, former CMO at Kettering Health, and Dr. Renee Allenbaugh who is the System Hospitalist Program Director at Penn Highlands Healthcare, to explore how Clinical Insights platforms like Regard are poised to bridge this gap, enabling clinicians to unlock valuable insights that drive meaningful improvements for both revenue cycle and patient care.
Addressing the Clinical Insights Gap
Wilson introduced the concept of the Clinical Insights Gap early in the discussion, highlighting the immensity of the volume of patient data within the EHR, and how the vast majority of it remains largely untapped in clinical decision-making. Only about 3% of patient data in the EHR, he said, is reviewed by clinicians, creating an imposing blind spot that can lead to clinicians missing significant diagnoses or medication interactions. To close this gap, Regard’s AI synthesizes all data within the medical record and surfaces relevant insights that allow clinicians to make more informed, data-driven decisions.
Dr. Allenbaugh, a daily user of Regard, emphasized how the platform’s AI supports clinicians in tracking complex patient histories amid staffing shortages and other resource constraints that otherwise make this task arduous. Dr. Romanello agreed, adding that Regard’s AI eliminates the “burden of information” for hospitalists who often see patients for the very first time – and at their sickest – enabling them to make “life-saving decisions” in cases that require a deep understanding of past treatments and conditions.
Enhancing Clinician Workflows with AI
Wilson discussed how Regard’s AI operates as an “AI resident” that complements clinicians by distilling massive data into actionable insights. He noted that some clinicians think of the platform as another member of the care team responsible for reviewing the entire patient chart, and flagging missed diagnoses or potential safety concerns. This AI-supported workflow helps identify critical health issues early on, and allows providers to prioritize time-sensitive, high-stakes care.
Dr. Allenbaugh shared that Regard has improved her documentation process, reducing the time she previously dedicated to record-keeping. Instead of spending half or more of a 12-hour shift on documentation alone, Regard enables her to allocate more time to patient care and collaboration with colleagues. Dr. Romanello echoed this point, emphasizing how Regard’s AI allows clinicians to focus on patient outcomes and care strategies instead of data-digging and clerical work.
Best Practices for AI Implementation
The panelists also shared practical strategies for health systems considering AI adoption. Both Dr. Allenbaugh and Dr. Romanello noted the importance of having real humans who can provide “at-the-elbow” support during implementation. By pairing new users with experienced colleagues, both health systems were able to foster a strong foundation of trust and engagement that accelerated the adoption of Regard.
Wilson recommended health systems focus on three pillars for successful AI integration: workflow integration, change management, and trust-building. Any AI platform, he said, needs to integrate smoothly into clinicians’ existing workflow, operate seamlessly in the background, and have a clear strategy for building and maintaining trust among users. About 30% of clinicians, he said, are able to adopt Regard without support and, “take to it like a fish to water” while many more clinicians require support, training, and tailored education. He said AI companies should focus their energy ensuring they meet clinicians where they are and their readiness level for new technologies.
The Future of AI in Healthcare
All of the panelists agreed AI should not interfere with the essential aspects of care that make healthcare human. “AI will never replace the relationship a patient has with their doctor,” Dr. Romanello said. Where AI is most useful and has the most potential in care, Dr. Allenbaugh added, is by helping clinicians make sense of data and understand patterns.
Wilson discussed the evolution of AI in healthcare, noting its initial focus on revenue cycle optimization and more recent applications in clerical tasks. He emphasized the growing interest in clinical AI, particularly for data synthesis and diagnostics. By unlocking data and making it accessible to clinicians, AI can improve patient care across the board.
The panelists expressed optimism about AI’s potential to enhance clinical decision-making, reduce clinician burnout, and improve patient outcomes by addressing the Clinical Insights Gap. They envision a future where AI tools like Regard empower healthcare providers to deliver more personalized and effective care.
“If health systems can understand how to close that blind spot – that Clinical Insights Gap – it is going to be great, not only for their health system and their clinicians, but most importantly, their patients,” Wilson said. “We’ve seen that play out again and again.”
