Case Study: Transforming Emergency Department Efficiency at Mee Memorial Hospital

Background

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Dr. Noah Hawthorne, a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and Medical Director at Mee Memorial Hospital in King City, California, faces unique challenges overseeing a busy rural emergency department (ED). His department operates with single-provider coverage and lacks scribe support. As part of Vituity, a national acute care management leader, Dr. Hawthorne and his team are tasked with managing high patient volumes, unpredictable workflows, and the demands of thorough documentation—tasks that become even more taxing without scribes to assist.

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The traditional EMR systems in place were not efficient enough to meet these demands. Dr. Hawthorne sought a solution that could streamline clinical documentation, allowing physicians to focus on patient care. Sayvant, an AI-powered charting tool, became the answer, transforming how his department operated.

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Challenge

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Rural EDs like Mee Memorial’s face constant challenges due to staffing limitations, high patient volumes, and time-consuming documentation processes. Without scribes to assist, physicians must balance their patient care responsibilities with the need for accurate and timely charting.

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Dr. Hawthorne recognized that traditional EMRs slowed down the documentation process, which made it difficult for physicians to focus on patient care while ensuring accurate documentation.

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"It takes a chaotic environment with rapidly changing info that evolves over time and turns it into a linear and comprehensive chart, bringing order from the chaos." – Dr. Hawthorne

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Solution

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Sayvant was introduced as the documentation solution that Dr. Hawthorne and his team needed. Unlike traditional EMRs, Sayvant is tailored to the fast-paced, unpredictable environment of rural EDs. It automatically captures physician-patient interactions and converts them into comprehensive, structured charts. 

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This system acts as a virtual assistant, allowing clinicians to maintain their focus on patient care while Sayvant takes care of the documentation. 

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“It takes what could be a chaotic situation and brings clarity and structure,” Dr. Hawthorne explains.

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Results‍

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Reduced Documentation Time

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Sayvant significantly reduced clinical charting time. This time savings is especially critical in single-coverage rural EDs, where every minute matters. “Honestly, my partners and I see the potential that this can be an absolute game changer,” said Dr. Hawthorne. “We see the potential for extraordinary growth and additional use cases we can only begin to imagine.”

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Improved Patient Satisfaction‍

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With less time spent on documentation, physicians now have more time to dedicate to patient interactions. This has not only improved communication but also enhanced care quality. Sayvant’s ability to translate discharge instructions into any language has further bolstered patient satisfaction, particularly in a rural community where patients often feel underserved.

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Opportunity for Improved Billing Accuracy

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Sayvant’s real potential lies in its ability to capture more complete and accurate documentation as more data is collected. This ensures that billable services, such as procedures or diagnostics, are documented properly, potentially leading to more accurate code capture in the long term. “It provides much more rapid standardization of best practices at a site and Vituity organizational level, both for quality and billing,” said Dr. Hawthorne.

As more data becomes available, the team expects to further explore the system's potential for revenue improvement.

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Enhanced Physician and Staff Satisfaction

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Sayvant's ability to automate charting has improved physician well-being by reducing burnout. Physicians can now focus more on patient care and leave the ED at the end of their shifts without hours of paperwork to complete. “The fact that it’s an internally developed product means we can help drive that change and create what we need as ED physicians,” Dr. Hawthorne added, reflecting on the benefits of having direct input into Sayvant’s ongoing development.

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Future Potential and Scalability

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The Sayvant system has shown tremendous potential for further growth. Dr. Hawthorne envisions its expansion not only within rural EDs but also in other hospital departments that face similar documentation challenges, such as inpatient floors and outpatient clinics. “We see the potential for extraordinary growth and additional use cases we can only begin to imagine,” said Dr. Hawthorne.

Sayvant’s adaptability and physician-driven development ensure it remains a valuable tool that evolves to meet the ever-changing needs of clinicians.

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Conclusion

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Using Sayvant at Mee Memorial Hospital’s emergency department has transformed the way physicians work, leading to improvements in efficiency, patient care, and billing accuracy. With reduced charting times and better documentation practices, physicians are now able to spend more time at the bedside, improving both patient outcomes and satisfaction.

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As Dr. Hawthorne summarizes: “Sayvant brings order from chaos, creating an elegant chart from a whirlwind of information. It’s helped standardize practices, improve billing, and ultimately allows us to focus on what we do best: taking care of patients.”

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