Vision Salon Eye Care's Experience with EncompassScribe

Dr. Ansel Johnson of Vision Salon Eye Care in Blue Island, Illinois, has seen a lot of change in his 40-year career, including the recent introduction of artificial intelligence (AI). But rather than stick with the status quo, Dr. Johnson remains open to new and innovative solutions like EncompassScribe by Eyefinity^®, the AI-assisted clinical documentation tool built directly into Eyefinity Encompass^®.

The Cutting Edge of Patient Care

Though Dr. Johnson finds it exciting to be an innovator and try new tools, he’s also aware that they sometimes require mindset shifts. EncompassScribe means moving away from traditional “remember it now, chart it later” documentation in favor of something more efficient, which can be uncomfortable at first. But he has seen similar situations throughout his career and knows the temporary growing pains only mean he’s advancing his practice.

"When electronic medical records first came out, people hated them. And now if you put us back on paper charts, we'd hate that!" he says. "So, yes, there's some adaptation, but I'm very optimistic and excited."

Strategies for Implementing AI in Optometry Practices

Dr. Johnson has taken a systematic approach to incorporating EncompassScribe into his exam workflow. Like any strategic innovator, he started small, upgrading his iPad first so he could test out the new capabilities. With clinical continuity and vision exam functionalities on the horizon, he wants to find solid footing before expanding it to the rest of his practice.

"I haven’t exposed the technicians to EncompassScribe yet, but I think they'll love it, because it's going to help enhance their intake,” he says. “You know, the medications you've got to put in for the patient, the acuities, the pressures... I think they will really love it.”

Dr. Johnson recommends taking the same start-small approach with patients. Rather than using EncompassScribe for every visit right away, he began with a few appointment categories and gradually expanded from there.

"You can pick and choose your patients, get good at that, and then expand,” he says. “We can start off with patients coming in for just one type of care, then expand to certain disease patients and see how that goes."

One thing that providers never have to worry about with EncompassScribe is finalization without consent. Every note, prescription, lab order, and billing code requires a doctor’s approval before being finalized in the patient’s record, taking the guesswork out of a critical step in the documentation process.

Optometry Software that Streamlines and Strengthens Care

Dr. Johnson says EncompassScribe saves him time and mental energy since he only has to double-check notes, rather than risk forgetting anything as he types manually. It also allows him to add more detail to exams, quickly create provider-to-provider communications from clinical notes, and access these benefits all without leaving Eyefinity Encompass, since it’s baked right into the software he uses every day.

Perhaps most importantly, though, EncompassScribe opens a door to stronger, more compassionate communication with patients, because they’re hearing more about their conditions and care.

"They might hear all this fancy terminology, but it's just another opportunity to let the patient know the detail in which we're examining them,” Dr. Johnson says. “To be able to go back and say something quickly in layman's terms, it's another opportunity to reassure patients. They might hear all this stuff, but then I'll step back and say, ‘All I just basically said in English is that everything is good.’"

Shaping the Future of AI in Eye Care Together

Having used Eyefinity software for most of his 40-year career, Dr. Johnson is optimistic about the future of EncompassScribe and how early adopters like him can help refine the Eyefinity Encompass experience for others. As an innovator, he trusts that EncompassScribe will continue to evolve with his practice and expand into more workflows.

"I have no doubt it'll continue to advance, just like any technology," he says. "I'm excited to be at the cutting edge of this."

About EncompassScribe by Eyefinity

Built into Eyefinity Encompass, EncompassScribe understands and interprets natural human dialogue and turns relevant conversations into proposed visit notes, helping providers chart more efficiently while staying focused on patient care. Every suggestion is reviewed and approved by the provider, and ongoing innovations ensure EncompassScribe will evolve with your practice. See it for yourself.