#461 – Manny Krakaris, CEO at Augmedix

Introduction

In a recent episode of the Slice of Healthcare podcast, host Jared Taylor sat down with Manny Krakaris, CEO of Augmedix, to discuss the company’s innovative approach to healthcare documentation, their recent acquisition by Commure, and the impact of AI on both clinicians and patients. This conversation sheds light on how Augmedix is making significant strides in improving the efficiency and quality of healthcare.

Revolutionizing Medical Documentation

Augmedix has transformed the traditional approach to medical note-taking. Manny Krakaris explained how the company repurposes conversations between doctors and patients to generate medical notes. This method eliminates the need for clinicians to perform two separate tasks—interacting with patients and then documenting the visit—which saves valuable time and reduces burnout.

“We help clinicians with their medical note documentation by using the conversation between a doctor and a patient as the input for creating a medical note,” Krakaris said.

Scaling with AI

The journey of Augmedix from manual to automated documentation has been driven by advancements in AI. Initially, the company relied on remote listening to generate notes, but with the development of NLP and other technologies, they have moved towards automation. Today, AI plays a crucial role in creating medical notes, further easing the burden on clinicians.

“We embarked on a journey almost six years ago to automate the process, and now we are using AI to generate every one of our products,” Krakaris highlighted.

Commure Acquisition

Discussing the recent acquisition by Commure, Krakaris emphasized the strategic alignment between the two companies. Commure’s extensive portfolio complements Augmedix’s offerings, creating a comprehensive solution for the entire patient journey. This integration aims to reduce inefficiencies and costs in healthcare by providing a seamless experience across different stages of patient care.

“Providing a comprehensive platform that goes beyond the point of care medical note documentation but encompasses RCM and patient intake functions is a major step forward,” Krakaris noted.

Addressing Clinician Burnout

One of the core missions of Augmedix is to address clinician burnout. By reducing the administrative burden on doctors, the company helps prevent “quiet quitting,” where clinicians reduce their working hours due to overwhelming stress. Augmedix’s solutions have shown a 25% reduction in fractional quitting, significantly improving patient access to care.

“We’ve found that by delivering a solution that addresses some of their burden, we have reduced fractional quitting by about 25%,” Krakaris stated.

Patient Perspectives on AI

Krakaris also touched on how patients perceive AI in healthcare. He stressed the importance of AI providing real utility to patients, such as improving the quality of doctor-patient interactions. When AI enhances the clinician’s ability to focus on the patient, it is more likely to be accepted and valued by patients.

“If AI actually provides utility to the patient, it will be accepted. For instance, freeing up clinicians to focus exclusively on the patient is incredibly valuable,” Krakaris shared.

Conclusion

The conversation with Manny Krakaris provides a comprehensive look at how Augmedix is leveraging AI to transform healthcare documentation, reduce clinician burnout, and enhance patient care. The recent acquisition by Commure marks a significant step towards offering integrated healthcare solutions, promising a more efficient and seamless experience for both providers and patients. As Augmedix continues to innovate, its impact on the healthcare industry is set to grow even further.