WVU Medicine Integrates AI into Doctor Visits

New Abridge technology aims to improve patient-doctor interactions and reduce administrative burdens.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 10:49pm

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WVU Medicine is implementing an artificial intelligence program called Abridge across its network of 2,800 clinicians. The AI technology is designed to better connect doctors and patients while cutting down on time spent on paperwork and documentation after appointments.

Why it matters

The integration of AI into doctor visits represents an effort to improve the patient experience and allow clinicians to focus more on care delivery rather than administrative tasks. However, some patients may have hesitations about having their appointments recorded, even if the recordings are secure and not shared externally.

The details

The Abridge AI program will be used in a number of WVU Medicine facilities. David Rich, WVU Medicine's Chief Medical Information Officer, believes the technology can enhance the connection between doctors and patients by reducing the time clinicians spend on documentation after appointments. Patients will be given the option to opt out of having their visits recorded by the AI system.

  • The Abridge AI program is currently being implemented across WVU Medicine facilities.

The players

WVU Medicine

A healthcare system based in West Virginia that is integrating artificial intelligence technology into its clinical operations.

David Rich

The Chief Medical Information Officer at WVU Medicine who believes the Abridge AI can improve patient-doctor interactions.

Abridge

An artificial intelligence program that WVU Medicine is implementing to record and document patient visits, with the goal of reducing administrative burdens for clinicians.

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What they’re saying

“So what it brings to us is more focus on the patient and less time typing away or using other tools to generate documentation after we had that encounter with the patients.”

— David Rich, Chief Medical Information Officer, WVU Medicine

“Understand the hesitation. We try to talk that the recording is secure, it's not send out, it's not sold.”

— David Rich, Chief Medical Information Officer, WVU Medicine

What’s next

WVU Medicine plans to make the Abridge AI technology available to all 2,800 of its clinicians across its facilities.

The takeaway

The integration of AI into doctor visits represents an effort by WVU Medicine to improve the patient experience and allow clinicians to focus more on care delivery rather than administrative tasks, though some patients may have privacy concerns about having their appointments recorded.