Summary
Athenahealth announced new AI features for its electronic health records system, including a digital assistant and tools for simplifying clinical tasks. These will start testing in 2026 and come at no additional cost to clients. The AI will help with tasks like medical scribing and coding, and providers can easily switch between using the AI features and traditional methods.
Key Facts
- Athenahealth introduced an AI feature called athenaAmbient and an assistant named Sage.
- These tools will begin user testing in the first half of 2026.
- Clients will not pay extra fees for these new AI features.
- The tools are designed to improve quality of care and reduce physician burnout.
- External vendor solutions are still available for customers who prefer them.
- The AI features will be automatically integrated into the existing system for ease of use.
- Sage can summarize charts and answer clinicians’ questions during patient care.
- Sage uses technology similar to ChatGPT and can adapt to other AI models if needed.
