Healthcare professionals, can you share one strategy you've implemented to reduce screen time with patients while still documenting effectively? How has this affected your patient relationships?

How have you reduced screen time while still documenting effectively? In the emergency room, we implemented Cleo, an AI scribe that listens to the patient encounter and generates documentation in real time. The difference was immediate and significant. Before AI scribing, I'd spend half the encounter typing into a computer with my back to the patient, or I'd finish my shift and spend another hour catching up on charts. Neither option was good—one hurt the patient relationship, the other hurt me. Now I walk into a room, sit down, and actually look at my patient while we talk. The AI captures the conversation, generates a note, and I review and sign it. Documentation that used to take 5-10 minutes per patient takes 1-2 minutes of review. The effect on patient relationships has been profound. Patients notice when you're present versus when you're distracted by a screen. Eye contact, body language, the ability to actually listen—these things matter, especially when someone is scared or in pain. I've had patients comment that I "actually listened" to them, which is sad because that should be baseline, not exceptional. The other benefit is cognitive. When I'm not mentally juggling documentation while trying to assess a patient, I'm a better clinician. I catch things I might have missed. I ask better follow-up questions. The quality of care improves, not just the patient experience. AI scribing isn't perfect—you still need to review everything for accuracy. But it's the closest thing I've found to practicing medicine the way it should be practiced: focused on the patient, not the computer. Joshua Lindsley, DO | Board-Certified Emergency & Obesity Medicine Highland Longevity | Fort Worth, TX www.highlandlongevity.com

One strategy I've implemented is "bookend charting" with a shared agenda, meaning I do most of the documentation either right before I enter the room (reviewing key points and prepping templates) or immediately after the visit, so I can keep the screen time minimal while we're actually talking. During the visit, I'll usually say something like, "I'm going to keep my attention on you and only jot down the essentials, then I'll finish the detailed notes right after." If I do need to type, I use it intentionally by narrating what I'm doing, such as, "I'm just documenting your symptoms so I don't miss anything important." That keeps the technology from feeling like a barrier and helps the patient feel included rather than ignored. It's had a noticeably positive impact on patient relationships. People tend to open up more when they feel fully seen, and the session feels calmer and more human. I also find there's less repetition and fewer misunderstandings because the conversation flows better and patients are more engaged. Overall, it builds trust because the patient experiences the interaction as a relationship first, and documentation second.

I make it a priority, especially for new patient visits, to sit on eye level with the patients and create a personal connection. Asking about their hobbies, family, job, and more can create a sense of personal investment into the overall wellbeing of the patient. Once we create that rapport, I start taking notes into the EMR while still maintaining eye contact. The most efficient tool for me has been creating SmartTexts and using SmartTools on Epic to expedite documentation while still maintaining thorough clinical care and patient rapport. Sitting with patients, facing towards them while still being able to type via preset documentation tools (like SmartText on Epic) is pivotal for establishing an efficient yet effective clinical workflow.

I rely on voice-assisted documentation during visits instead of typing continuously. I summarize key findings verbally into the system and finalize the note afterward, which allows me to maintain eye contact and stay focused on the conversation rather than the computer. It keeps the visit feeling natural and helps me capture important details without interrupting the flow. This has noticeably improved my patient relationships. Patients feel more listened to and less rushed when I'm not looking at a screen, which builds trust and leads to more open discussions about their concerns. Research from the American Academy of Family Physicians supports that strategies like dictation and workflow optimization reduce EHR burden while preserving clinician-patient connection and visit quality.

One of the best ways I have found to decrease the amount of time I spend on a computer when I see patients is the 'Collaborative Charting and Narrative Review' strategy. Rather than viewing an EHR as my own private ledger, I set up the monitor in a shared space where both patient-and-I can see each other. I ask patients if they would like to watch as I enter notes-and-take notes aloud, so they know exactly how their symptoms are documented-by-me. By documenting the 'History of Present Illness' at the same time I verify with my patient that the notes are correct, I eliminate the need for a separate 'Documentation Block' once my patient leaves my office, because the content of the clinical note is created-and-verified during our discussion. This strategy has changed the way I relate to my patients from transactional to partnership. Inviting my patients to see what I am entering on the computer turns it from a physical barrier to an educational tool, which causes patients to report feeling greater trust in me, since they are able to see that their concerns are being documented correctly. Additionally, seeing the structure of the charting process creates a sense of connection between patient and doctor, reducing the 'clerical silence' that often occurs when doctors type during sessions. The experience of being involved in documenting their health conditions results in patients feeling appreciated and respected, which ultimately leads to long-term adherence with the treatment plan.

One strategy I implemented was shifting most documentation to brief structured notes taken immediately after the visit instead of typing continuously during the conversation. During appointments, I now maintain eye contact, listen without interrupting to enter data, and jot down only a few short prompts on paper to guide my charting later. This small change significantly reduced the amount of time I spent looking at a screen while the patient was talking, without compromising accuracy or completeness in the medical record. The effect on patient relationships was noticeable almost immediately. Patients became more open in sharing concerns, conversations felt less rushed, and trust improved because they felt fully heard rather than observed through a computer monitor. I also found that visits became more efficient overall because clearer communication reduced follow-up clarifications and misunderstandings. Studies have shown that increased clinician eye contact and reduced screen focus improve patient satisfaction and perceived quality of care.

A single change made the difference. Documentation was restructured around a brief post visit capture window instead of real time typing. During the encounter, notes are limited to a short problem list and a few keywords written by hand or entered quickly. Full documentation happens immediately after the patient leaves, while the conversation is still fresh. That separation protects eye contact and flow without sacrificing accuracy. The key is constraint. Templates were simplified so only information that affects decisions is required. Anything that does not change care is excluded. This reduced the urge to document defensively during the visit. Memory remains reliable for that short window, especially when anchored by the keywords captured earlier. Patient relationships improved noticeably. Visits felt calmer and less transactional. Patients spoke more freely when the screen stopped knowning the rhythm. Follow up questions increased because people felt heard. Satisfaction comments shifted from efficiency to presence. Clinicians also reported less cognitive load. Conversations became easier to guide when attention stayed on the person rather than the cursor. Effective documentation does not require constant typing. It requires timing, structure, and trust in clinical judgment.

I make eye contact first, then document. I stop typing during the patient's story, use brief cues, and complete structured notes afterward. I dictate my notes by microphone after the patient leaves the room, so there's no sense of being recorded and privacy is fully respected. This keeps me present with patients, helps them feel heard, not watched, and builds trust without compromising documentation quality. D-r Martina Ambardjieva, MD Urologist Teaching university assistant Medical expert at Invigour medical https://invigormedical.com/

I implemented one strategy that made a measurable difference in reducing screen time while still documenting effectively: I separate the care moment from the charting moment by using a relationship-first encounter flow followed by short, scheduled documentation blocks. In my business, Essential Living Support, LLC, I support veterans in a VA Medical Foster Home setting and adults with I/DD in residential and community-based services. In these environments, trust, routine, and emotional safety matter as much as clinical accuracy. If I am looking at a screen during key moments, I risk missing nonverbal cues, behavioral changes, and safety concerns that are essential to good care. During interactions, I stay fully present and follow a consistent mental framework that mirrors how I document later: changes in condition, medication-related observations, mood and behavior indicators, safety risks, and the daily living support I provided. I keep the interaction conversational and human, then I document immediately after in a protected window using structured templates and standardized phrasing. This helps me meet compliance expectations without turning the client relationship into a data entry session. This approach strengthened my relationships with the people I serve. Veterans and clients with I/DD engage more when they feel seen and heard, not monitored. I have noticed more openness, better cooperation with routines, and fewer misunderstandings because my attention is on them, not the device. It also builds confidence with guardians and case managers because my documentation remains thorough, timely, and consistent while my care interactions remain personal. Operationally, it improves quality across the board. My notes are clearer because they are organized around a repeatable structure instead of fragmented, real-time typing. It also reduces burnout because I am not trying to do two cognitively demanding jobs at once: providing care and documenting it in the same moment. In short, I use screens to support the work, not to lead it. By intentionally prioritizing presence first and documentation second, I protect the relationship and still maintain high-quality, audit-ready records. Richard Brown Jr, MBA-HCM www.essentiallivingsupport.com

Ambient AI Medical Scribes are one of the most effective ways to reduce screen time in modern practice. The audio capture capability of these scribes allows for the passive transcription and organization of the conversation between clinician and patient in the form of clinical notes. By removing the burden of manually inputting data from the clinician, Ambient AI Medical Scribes enable clinicians to maintain eye contact with patients while providing care, thereby improving their ability to assess nonverbal cues from patients and conduct physical exams more efficiently. Ambient AI Medical Scribes reintroduce "undivided attention" into the doctor/patient relationship in a way that reduces stress for clinicians. It is well established that when physicians look at patients instead of computer screens in high-stress settings like emergency departments, it creates an impression of compassion and urgency. In addition, when physicians are looking at patients, they can detect subtle signs of disease that may not be detected if they are focused on the computer screen.

I have implemented Ai technology to capture everything my patient and I discuss so I can go back and chart anything that I have missed. This allows me to be present and not focused on my screen. This allows the patient to feel heard and have my sole focus be on them and their time with me. It has allowed me to feel comfortable knowing I have not missed anything in the appointment.

One simple strategy was separating connection from documentation. During the visit, I focused fully on the patient and took only minimal notes or keywords. I finished detailed documentation immediately after, while the conversation was still fresh. Patients noticed right away. More eye contact, better listening, and a stronger sense of being heard. The relationship improved because the screen stopped competing with the person in front of me.

This approach is reinforced through accredited U.S.-based healthcare training programs that emphasize real-world clinical workflows and modern documentation standards. By teaching the effective use of structured templates and focused in-visit note capture, these programs prepare healthcare professionals to document efficiently without diverting attention away from the patient. As a result, clinicians enter practice better equipped to balance regulatory requirements with patient-centered care. Strong documentation habits developed during training help reduce screen dependency, improve communication during visits, and maintain accuracy and compliance in high-pressure clinical environments.

One strategy that has worked well for me is separating listening from typing instead of trying to do both at once. I now explain to patients at the start that I will spend the first part of the consult fully focused on them, then document key points after while they are still in the room. Years ago I noticed that when I typed constantly, patients stopped volunteering useful details and the consult felt rushed, even if the care was sound. Once I changed this approach, conversations became more open and I picked up important habits and triggers that never appear in a referral letter. From a documentation point of view, I rely on short structured templates and brief clinical prompts so nothing is missed, rather than long free text notes. My view is that patients do not mind documentation, but they do mind competing for attention. The practical takeaway is to protect eye contact first, then document with intention. That small shift builds trust and often leads to better clinical decisions because patients tell you more when they feel truly listened to.

The best opportunity to regain that eye contact is to remove the administrative minutiae-consent forms, signatures, etc-from the day of the appointment. Our evidence suggests when providers architect mobile-first, asynchronous digital workflows, patients arrive at the visit with the paperwork completed on their own devices. The provider doesn't need to be a prisoner of a monitor during the actual consultation. Research published in the Annals of Family Medicine found that physicians, on average, spend almost two hours per hour of direct patient contact on EHR tasks. By prepopulating the documentation over automated paths, we're seeing providers eliminating the "swivel-chair" effect where the provider is constantly looking away from the patient for verification purposes. It changes the energy of the room. When the screen isn't an additional guest in the room, a patient feels more heard than processed. It gives the visit its human soul again, allowing the practitioner to focus acutely on observations of care, feelings for patients, on the trust factor that humanizes biology. Digital tools should be 'invisible bridges' across which a visit is facilitated, not a third party participant in an intimate conversation that commands attention.

In my experience as a clinician the most effective way to shrink screen time without sacrificing compliance has been to re-think when and how the note gets created rather than trying to type everything in real time. Before I enter an exam room I do a quick chart prep: I review the patient's history, medications and last visit note and jot down any reminders in a notebook or the EHR scratch pad. That way I'm not re-reading old records while the patient is sitting across from me and I've already populated routine parts of the record like vitals, chronic problems and screening questions. During the encounter I only capture a few keywords on paper so I don't have to look at a monitor at all. Instead I maintain eye contact and use open body language to show I'm focused on the patient. Immediately after the visit I dictate the full note using a speech-to-text tool built into the electronic health record or a secure mobile dictation app. I also use templated macros for common complaints (e.g., "cough/URI" or "annual physical") that automatically pull in standard exam elements and billing codes so I only need to edit the individualized portions. On days when our schedule is heavy I'll have a rotating medical assistant act as a "documentation buddy"—they stay in the room with me, enter the history and exam findings in real time and later reconcile my narrative dictation. This shared approach allows me to keep my focus on the human interaction while still meeting documentation requirements. Shifting documentation before and after the actual face-to-face time has had a noticeable impact on patient relationships. Patients comment that they feel truly heard and less like I'm "just another provider staring at a computer." I find that engagement and adherence improve when I summarize the plan verbally at the end and use the screen only to show them imaging or lab trends. From a workflow perspective I actually finish notes more consistently because my template macros and dictation speed up the process. Ultimately, respecting a patient's time and attention by minimising screen distractions builds trust and strengthens the therapeutic alliance.

I have observed this with a client of mine who is a health care provider and utilized voice recognition software for documentation purposes; as such, screen time has been minimized by the use of the technology. I have also personally experienced that using technology that provides this type of assistance allows for increased focus on the patient during consultations, thus increasing the quality of the relationship. I have seen that technologies like voice recognition software are able to provide a level of support that can be quite beneficial in a health care setting.