Digital Minute: Premier Health Expands Telehealth Usage

By Walter Reiling, MD, system chief medical information officer, Premier Health; and Mandy Via, system director of access, referral management, and telehealth, Premier Health

Premier Health is proud to announce the expansion of interpretive service offerings. In July, all virtual care visits through EPIC Video Client allow the clinical team to invite a live interpreter directly into the video call.  If the patient has a preferred language on file, that language will automatically populate during the interpreter request. If not, a menu of 89 languages is available for selection.

Health care has long recognized the value of interpretive services for in-person traditional care. Incorporating interpretive services into health care encounters breaks down language barriers, facilitating clearer communication between providers and patients who speak different languages.  This ensures that patients fully understand their diagnosis, treatment, options, and medication instructions, which is crucial for informed consent and effective treatment.  Interpretive services also enhance the quality of care by enabling providers to identify cultural nuances that may impact a patient’s health, leading to more personalized and effective care plans.  Additionally, it demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, helping to build trust and rapport with diverse patient populations. 

Layering interpretive services into virtual care offerings at Premier Health ensures that language differences don’t become a barrier to receiving quality care.  It’s another step toward more compassionate, accessible, and effective health care for everyone.

Ambient Documentation Update

There has been considerable excitement surrounding the ambient documentation project, and as of July 28, we have included 30 providers in the ambient documentation pilot project. Our latest information reflects the first four days of use of the DAX Product from Nuance/Microsoft. We experienced an increase in usage each day, resulting in 725 encounters over the first four days. Our pilot group has been great about “kicking the tires” and giving feedback to the project team. The users have overwhelmingly given positive reviews thus far. We will continue to learn from and evaluate the project for the remainder of the 60-day pilot. More information about the outcome may be available in the next couple of months. I want to publicly thank each of the folks that worked on our selection and are helping with the pilot for this transformational technology.

Back to the August 2025 issue of Premier Pulse