How AI Is Transforming Pediatric Healthcare
Artificial Intelligence is steadily weaving its way into everyday life, and healthcare is no exception. At Dayton Children’s Hospital, doctors are now using Abridge AI, a transcription platform that records and organizes conversations during medical visits. What may seem like a simple tool is actually transforming the way doctors interact with families.
Instead of spending hours after work finishing notes, what many providers call “pajama time,” physicians like Dr. Michael Kessel now have documentation completed before they leave for the day.
This means less time typing and more time listening. By the end of cold and flu season, 200 providers will be using the system across urgent care, the emergency department, inpatient units, and more.
Parents also benefit. The summaries they receive are written at an eighth-grade reading level, making medical instructions clearer and easier to follow. The platform supports over 50 specialties and 28 languages, and it can filter out the background noise common in pediatric care, from crying children to toys buzzing, so only the essential details remain.
For Dr. Kessel, this has become more than a convenience. It’s a way to build stronger connections with families, reduce stress for children, and make visits shorter and smoother. “Eventually this new technology became our norm,” he said.
At its core, this innovation is about more than efficiency. It speaks to a child’s right to the highest attainable standard of health. By freeing doctors to be more present and making information accessible to families, technology is helping ensure that right is honored.
