Expert Conversations in PM&R Practice: The AI-Powered Physiatrist’s Toolkit for Smarter Documentation, Stronger Appeals, and Enhanced Practice Efficiency-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The expert panel, featuring Drs. Aslan Tariq, Chris Lewis, Juwan Quarg, and Evan Zeldin, discussed the integration of AI in physiatry to enhance documentation, appeals, and practice efficiency. Highlighting the rapid digital transformation post-HITECH Act, Dr. Lewis emphasized how clinical informatics bridges technology and medicine to improve documentation and provider well-being. He detailed their pilot of ambient AI scribes at the University of Washington, demonstrating reductions in documentation time, burnout, and improved note accuracy though acknowledging challenges like transcription errors and workflow adaptation.<br /><br />Dr. Quarg focused on AI’s role in addressing the growing crisis of prior authorizations, which cause significant delays, denials, and physician burnout in physiatry. He illustrated how AI, utilizing massive claims data, can predict approval likelihood, automate appeals, and generate payer-specific documentation, speeding up approvals for procedures like epidural steroid injections and skilled nursing facility admissions. Legal scrutiny surrounds payer use of AI for denials, but AI also offers promise for overcoming administrative burdens.<br /><br />Dr. Zeldin closed by sharing practical AI tools he uses for scheduling, workflow, meeting notes, and rapid literature summarization. He underscored the need for cautious application, given AI’s frequent errors or “hallucinations,” and recommended deploying AI primarily for reversible, low-risk tasks. He illustrated how specialized LLMs trained on medical literature can vastly improve access to clinical evidence and patient communication materials.<br /><br />Overall, the session highlighted AI’s potential to alleviate administrative overload, improve documentation, and streamline care while cautioning users to remain vigilant about accuracy, workflow integration, and ethical considerations as the technology evolves.

Keywords

AI in physiatry

clinical informatics

ambient AI scribes

documentation efficiency

provider burnout reduction

prior authorization automation

claims data analysis

appeals automation

payer-specific documentation

workflow integration

large language models (LLMs)

ethical considerations in AI